株探米国株
英語
エドガーで原本を確認する
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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_________________________
FORM 10-Q
☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2023
☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                           to                          
Commission file number: 001-37700
NICOLET BANKSHARES, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Wisconsin 47-0871001
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
111 North Washington Street
Green Bay, Wisconsin 54301
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) 
(Zip Code)
(920) 430-1400
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
N/A
(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share NIC New York Stock Exchange
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer Smaller reporting company
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
As of October 31, 2023 there were 14,761,128 shares of $0.01 par value common stock outstanding.



Nicolet Bankshares, Inc.
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
September 30, 2023
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
2


PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:
NICOLET BANKSHARES, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
September 30, 2023 December 31, 2022
(Unaudited) (Audited)
Assets
Cash and due from banks $ 109,414  $ 121,211 
Interest-earning deposits 436,466  33,512 
Cash and cash equivalents
545,880  154,723 
Certificates of deposit in other banks 7,598  12,518 
Securities available for sale (“AFS”), at fair value 793,826  917,618 
Securities held to maturity (“HTM”), at amortized cost —  679,128 
Other investments 58,367  65,286 
Loans held for sale 6,500  1,482 
Loans 6,239,257  6,180,499 
Allowance for credit losses - loans (“ACL-Loans”) (63,160) (61,829)
Loans, net
6,176,097  6,118,670 
Premises and equipment, net 117,744  108,956 
Bank owned life insurance (“BOLI”) 168,223  165,137 
Goodwill and other intangibles, net 396,208  402,438 
Accrued interest receivable and other assets 145,719  138,013 
Total assets
$ 8,416,162  $ 8,763,969 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Liabilities:
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits $ 2,020,074  $ 2,361,816 
Interest-bearing deposits 5,162,314  4,817,105 
Total deposits
7,182,388  7,178,921 
Short-term borrowings —  317,000 
Long-term borrowings 197,754  225,342 
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities 61,559  70,177 
Total liabilities
7,441,701  7,791,440 
Stockholders’ Equity:
Common stock 147  147 
Additional paid-in capital 626,348  621,988 
Retained earnings 431,317  407,864 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (83,351) (57,470)
Total stockholders’ equity 974,461  972,529 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 8,416,162  $ 8,763,969 
Preferred shares authorized (no par value)
10,000,000  10,000,000 
Preferred shares issued and outstanding —  — 
Common shares authorized (par value $0.01 per share)
30,000,000  30,000,000 
Common shares outstanding 14,757,565  14,690,614 
Common shares issued 14,818,155  14,764,104 
See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.
3

ITEM 1. Financial Statements Continued:

NICOLET BANKSHARES, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Income
(In thousands, except share and per share data) (Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2023 2022 2023 2022
Interest income:
Loans, including loan fees $ 87,657  $ 63,060  $ 250,890  $ 167,313 
Investment securities:
Taxable
4,351  5,350  13,445  15,612 
Tax-exempt
1,424  1,181  4,637  2,503 
Other interest income 6,452  1,127  10,345  2,734 
Total interest income
99,884  70,718  279,317  188,162 
Interest expense:
Deposits 34,964  4,638  89,241  9,240 
Short-term borrowings 474  594  4,794  622 
Long-term borrowings 2,972  2,496  8,048  6,431 
Total interest expense
38,410  7,728  102,083  16,293 
Net interest income
61,474  62,990  177,234  171,869 
Provision for credit losses 450  8,600  3,990  9,650 
Net interest income after provision for credit losses 61,024  54,390  173,244  162,219 
Noninterest income:
Wealth management fee income 6,057  5,009  17,439  15,700 
Mortgage income, net 2,020  1,728  5,308  7,186 
Service charges on deposit accounts 1,492  1,589  4,501  4,602 
Card interchange income 3,321  3,012  9,685  8,543 
BOLI income 1,090  966  3,363  2,667 
Deferred compensation plan asset market valuations (457) (571) 988  (2,354)
LSR income, net 1,108  (517) 3,398  (1,042)
Asset gains (losses), net 31  (46) (38,755) 2,870 
Other income 1,879  1,830  5,611  4,902 
Total noninterest income
16,541  13,000  11,538  43,074 
Noninterest expense:
Personnel 23,944  24,136  72,172  65,008 
Occupancy, equipment and office 9,027  7,641  26,655  21,476 
Business development and marketing 1,869  2,281  5,936  6,169 
Data processing 4,643  3,664  12,849  10,647 
Intangibles amortization 1,986  1,628  6,230  4,399 
FDIC assessments 1,500  480  3,049  1,440 
Merger-related expense —  519  189  1,172 
Other expense 2,769  2,218  8,490  6,344 
Total noninterest expense
45,738  42,567  135,570  116,655 
Income before income tax expense 31,827  24,823  49,212  88,638 
Income tax expense 14,669  6,313  18,357  21,979 
Net income $ 17,158  $ 18,510  $ 30,855  $ 66,659 
Earnings per common share:
Basic $ 1.16  $ 1.33  $ 2.10  $ 4.88 
Diluted $ 1.14  $ 1.29  $ 2.05  $ 4.72 
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic 14,740,319  13,890,066  14,715,588  13,647,973 
Diluted 15,099,622  14,310,275  15,044,259  14,126,772 
See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.
4

ITEM 1. Financial Statements Continued:

NICOLET BANKSHARES, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(In thousands) (Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2023 2022 2023 2022
Net income $ 17,158  $ 18,510  $ 30,855  $ 66,659 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities AFS:
Net unrealized holding gains (losses)
(21,645) (26,162) (12,244) (89,630)
Net realized (gains) losses included in income
(11) —  337  (15)
Reclassification adjustment for securities transferred
   from held to maturity to available for sale
—  —  (20,434) — 
Income tax (expense) benefit 3,574  7,064  6,460  24,204 
Total other comprehensive income (loss) (18,082) (19,098) (25,881) (65,441)
Comprehensive income (loss) $ (924) $ (588) $ 4,974  $ 1,218 
See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.
5

ITEM 1. Financial Statements Continued:

NICOLET BANKSHARES, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
(In thousands) (Unaudited)
Common
Stock
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
Retained
Earnings
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
Total
Balances at June 30, 2023 $ 147  $ 624,897  $ 417,863  $ (65,269) $ 977,638 
Comprehensive income:
Net income, three months ended September 30, 2023
—  —  17,158  —  17,158 
Other comprehensive income (loss) —  —  —  (18,082) (18,082)
Stock-based compensation expense —  1,399  —  —  1,399 
Cash dividends on common stock, $0.25 per share
—  —  (3,704) —  (3,704)
Exercise of stock options, net —  (146) —  —  (146)
Issuance of common stock —  198  —  —  198 
Balances at September 30, 2023 $ 147  $ 626,348  $ 431,317  $ (83,351) $ 974,461 
Balances at June 30, 2022 $ 134  $ 520,741  $ 361,753  $ (43,241) $ 839,387 
Comprehensive income:
Net income, three months ended September 30, 2022
—  —  18,510  —  18,510 
Other comprehensive income (loss) —  —  —  (19,098) (19,098)
Issuance of common stock in acquisition 13  98,136  —  —  98,149 
Stock-based compensation expense —  1,329  —  —  1,329 
Exercise of stock options, net —  —  — 
Issuance of common stock —  185  —  —  185 
Balances at September 30, 2022 $ 147  $ 620,392  $ 380,263  $ (62,339) $ 938,463 
Balances at December 31, 2022 $ 147  $ 621,988  $ 407,864  $ (57,470) $ 972,529 
Comprehensive income:
Net income, nine months ended September 30, 2023
—  —  30,855  —  30,855 
Other comprehensive income (loss)
—  —  —  (25,881) (25,881)
Stock-based compensation expense —  4,829  —  —  4,829 
Cash dividends on common stock, $0.50 per share
—  —  (7,402) —  (7,402)
Exercise of stock options, net 453  —  —  454 
Issuance of common stock —  598  —  —  598 
Purchase and retirement of common stock (1) (1,520) —  —  (1,521)
Balances at September 30, 2023 $ 147  $ 626,348  $ 431,317  $ (83,351) $ 974,461 
Balances at December 31, 2021 $ 140  $ 575,045  $ 313,604  $ 3,102  $ 891,891 
Comprehensive income:
Net income, nine months ended September 30, 2022
—  —  66,659  —  66,659 
Other comprehensive income (loss)
—  —  —  (65,441) (65,441)
Issuance of common stock in acquisition 13  98,136  —  —  98,149 
Stock-based compensation expense —  5,282  —  —  5,282 
Exercise of stock options, net 2,077  —  —  2,078 
Issuance of common stock —  557  —  —  557 
Purchase and retirement of common stock (7) (60,705) —  —  (60,712)
Balances at September 30, 2022 $ 147  $ 620,392  $ 380,263  $ (62,339) $ 938,463 
See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.
6

ITEM 1. Financial Statements Continued:

NICOLET BANKSHARES, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
(In thousands)
Nine Months Ended September 30,
2023 2022
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income $ 30,855  $ 66,659 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and accretion 13,163  16,994 
Provision for credit losses 3,990  9,650 
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance (3,386) (2,551)
Stock-based compensation expense 4,829  5,282 
Asset (gains) losses, net 38,755  (2,870)
Gain on sale of loans held for sale, net (3,230) (4,520)
Net change due to:
Proceeds from sale of loans held for sale 108,991  188,093 
Origination of loans held for sale (111,883) (182,962)
Accrued interest receivable and other assets
(3,263) 7,719 
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities
(8,618) (14,145)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
70,203  87,349 
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Net (increase) decrease in loans (55,042) (537,001)
Net (increase) decrease in certificates of deposit in other banks 4,920  8,419 
Purchases of securities AFS (20,220) (8,623)
Purchases of securities HTM —  (56,479)
Proceeds from sales of securities AFS 28,992  23,984 
Proceeds from sales of securities HTM 460,051  — 
Proceeds from calls and maturities of securities AFS 256,151  70,781 
Proceeds from calls and maturities of securities HTM 2,916  21,378 
Purchases of other investments (12,934) (30,327)
Proceeds from sales of other investments 18,939  4,014 
Proceeds from redemption of BOLI 312  578 
Net (increase) decrease in premises and equipment (15,104) (7,965)
Net (increase) decrease in other real estate and other assets 1,211  9,785 
Net cash (paid) received in branch sale —  147,833 
Net cash (paid) received in business combination —  (28,221)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
670,192  (381,844)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Net increase (decrease) in deposits 3,633  68,428 
Net increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings (317,000) 147,134 
Repayments of long-term borrowings (28,000) (20,000)
Purchase and retirement of common stock (1,521) (60,712)
Cash dividends paid on common stock (7,402) — 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock 598  557 
Proceeds from exercise of stock options 454  2,078 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
(349,238) 137,485 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
391,157  (157,010)
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning
154,723  595,292 
Ending *
$ 545,880  $ 438,282 
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:
Cash paid for interest $ 99,486  $ 19,785 
Cash paid for taxes 22,920  25,660 
Transfer of securities from HTM to AFS 177,727  — 
Transfer of loans and bank premises to other real estate owned 873  432 
Capitalized mortgage servicing rights 1,104  2,127 
Acquisitions:
Fair value of assets acquired
$ —  $ 1,121,000 
Fair value of liabilities assumed
—  1,034,000 
Net assets acquired
—  87,000 
* There was no restricted cash in cash and cash equivalents at either September 30, 2023 or September 30, 2022.
See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.
7


NICOLET BANKSHARES, INC.
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1 – Basis of Presentation
General
In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary to present fairly the consolidated balance sheets, statements of income, comprehensive income (loss), changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows of Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. (the “Company” or “Nicolet”) and its subsidiaries, as of and for the periods presented, and all such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year.
These interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared according to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and, therefore, certain information and footnote disclosures normally presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) have been omitted or abbreviated. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates, assumptions, and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying disclosures. Estimates are used in accounting for, among other items, the allowance for credit losses, valuation of loans in acquisition transactions, useful lives for depreciation and amortization, fair value of financial instruments, impairment calculations, valuation of deferred tax assets, uncertain income tax positions and contingencies. These estimates are based on management’s knowledge of historical experience, current information, and other factors deemed to be relevant; accordingly, as this information changes, actual results could differ from those estimates. Factors that may cause sensitivity to the aforementioned estimates include but are not limited to: external market factors such as market interest rates and employment rates, changes to operating policies and procedures, changes in applicable banking or tax regulations, and changes to deferred tax estimates. Nicolet considers accounting estimates to be critical to reported financial results if the accounting estimate requires management to make assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain and different estimates that are reasonably likely to occur from period to period, could have a material impact on the financial statements. The accounting estimates we consider to be critical include business combinations and the valuation of loans acquired, the determination of the allowance for credit losses, and income taxes.
There have been no material changes or developments with respect to the assumptions or methodologies that the Company uses when applying critical accounting policies and developing critical accounting estimates as disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Adopted
In March 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-02, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Troubled Debt Restructurings (“TDRs”) and Vintage Disclosures. This ASU eliminated the accounting guidance for TDRs by creditors and enhanced the disclosure requirements for loan modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. The ASU also requires public business entities to expand the vintage disclosures to include gross charge-offs by year of origination. The updated guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. Adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements; however, it resulted in new disclosures. See Note 6 for the new disclosures.
Future Accounting Pronouncements
In March 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-02, Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Accounting for Investments in Tax Credit Structures Using the Proportional Amortization Method. This ASU permits reporting entities to elect to account for tax equity investments, regardless of the tax credit program for which the income tax credits are received, using the proportional amortization method if certain conditions are met. Under the proportional amortization method, an entity amortizes the initial cost of the investment in proportion to the income tax credits and other income tax benefits received and recognizes the net amortization and income tax credits and other income tax benefits in the income statement as a component of income tax expense. A reporting entity makes an accounting policy election to apply the proportional amortization method on a tax-credit-program-by-tax-credit-program basis rather than electing to apply the proportional amortization method at the reporting entity level or to individual investments. This ASU also requires specific disclosures of investments that generate income tax credits and other income tax benefits from a tax credit program for which the entity has elected to apply the proportional amortization method. The updated guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023.

8


In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. This ASU provides optional guidance for a limited period of time to ease the potential burden in accounting for (or recognizing the effects of) reference rate reform on financial reporting. It provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. In December 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-06, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848, which defers the sunset date of the original guidance from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2024. The Company continues to work through the cessation of LIBOR, including the modification of its loans and other financial instruments with attributes that are either directly or indirectly influenced by LIBOR. The Company expects to utilize the reference rate reform transition guidance, as applicable, and does not expect such adoption to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements or financial disclosures.

Reclassifications
Certain amounts in the 2022 consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2023 presentation. These reclassifications were not material and did not impact previously reported net income or comprehensive income.

Note 2 – Acquisition
Charter Bankshares, Inc. (“Charter”): On August 26, 2022, Nicolet completed its merger with Charter, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated March 29, 2022, at which time Charter merged with and into Nicolet, and Charter Bank, the wholly owned bank subsidiary of Charter, was merged with and into Nicolet National Bank (the “Bank”), the wholly owned bank subsidiary of Nicolet. In the merger, Charter stockholders received 15.458 shares of Nicolet common stock and $475 in cash for each share of Charter owned. As a result, Nicolet issued approximately 1.26 million shares of Nicolet common stock for stock consideration of $98 million and cash consideration of $39 million, for a total purchase price of $137 million. With the Charter merger, Nicolet expanded to Western Wisconsin and Minnesota.

A summary of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the Charter transaction, as of the acquisition date, including the purchase price allocation was as follows.

(In millions, except share data) Acquired from Charter Fair Value Adjustments Estimated Fair Value
Assets Acquired:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 10  $ —  $ 10 
Investment securities 218  —  218 
Loans 848  (21) 827 
ACL-Loans (9) (2)
Premises and equipment 10 
BOLI 29  —  29 
Core deposit intangible —  19  19 
Other assets 10 
     Total assets $ 1,110  $ 11  $ 1,121 
Liabilities Assumed:
Deposits $ 869  $ $ 870 
Borrowings 161  —  161 
Other liabilities — 
     Total liabilities $ 1,033  $ $ 1,034 
Net assets acquired $ 87 
Purchase Price:
Nicolet common stock issued (in shares) 1,262,360 
Value of Nicolet common stock consideration $ 98 
Cash consideration paid 39 
    Total purchase price $ 137 
Goodwill $ 50 

The Company purchased loans through the acquisition of Charter for which there was, at the date of acquisition, more than insignificant deterioration of credit quality since origination (purchased credit deteriorated loans or “PCD” loans). The carrying amount of these loans at acquisition was as follows.

9


(In thousands) August 26, 2022
Purchase price of PCD loans at acquisition $ 24,031 
Allowance for credit losses on PCD loans at acquisition 1,709 
Par value of PCD acquired loans at acquisition $ 25,740 

The Company accounted for the Charter acquisition under the acquisition method of accounting, and thus, the financial position and results of operations of Charter prior to the consummation date were not included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The accounting required assets purchased and liabilities assumed to be recorded at their respective estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. The estimated fair value was determined with the assistance of third party valuations, appraisals, and third party advisors. Goodwill arising as a result of the Charter acquisition is not deductible for tax purposes.

Note 3 – Earnings per Common Share
Basic earnings per common share are calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share are calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares adjusted for the dilutive effect of common stock awards (outstanding stock options and unvested restricted stock), if any. Presented below are the calculations for basic and diluted earnings per common share.
Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In thousands, except per share data) 2023 2022 2023 2022
Net income $ 17,158  $ 18,510  $ 30,855  $ 66,659 
Weighted average common shares outstanding 14,740  13,890  14,716  13,648 
Effect of dilutive common stock awards 360  420  328  479 
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding 15,100  14,310  15,044  14,127 
Basic earnings per common share* $ 1.16  $ 1.33  $ 2.10  $ 4.88 
Diluted earnings per common share* $ 1.14  $ 1.29  $ 2.05  $ 4.72 
*Cumulative quarterly per share performance may not equal annual per share totals due to the effects of the amount and timing of capital increases. When computing earnings per share for an interim period, the denominator is based on the weighted average shares outstanding during the interim period, and not on an annualized weighted average basis. Accordingly, the sum of the earnings per share data for the quarters will not necessarily equal the year to date earnings per share data.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, options to purchase approximately 0.1 million and 0.2 million shares, respectively, were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per common share as the effect of their exercise would have been anti-dilutive. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, options to purchase approximately 0.2 million and 0.1 million shares, respectively, were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per common share as the effect of their exercise would have been anti-dilutive.

Note 4 – Stock-Based Compensation
The Company may grant stock options and restricted stock under its stock-based compensation plans to certain officers, employees and directors. These plans are administered by a committee of the Board of Directors, and at September 30, 2023, approximately 0.7 million shares were available for grant under these stock-based compensation plans.
A Black-Scholes model is utilized to estimate the fair value of stock option grants, while the market price of the Company’s stock at the date of grant is used to estimate the fair value of restricted stock awards. The weighted average assumptions used in the Black-Scholes model for valuing stock option grants were as follows.
Nine Months Ended September 30,
2023 2022
Dividend yield 1.6  % —  %
Expected volatility 30  % 30  %
Risk-free interest rate 3.74  % 3.03  %
Expected average life 7 years 7 years
Weighted average per share fair value of options $ 20.94  $ 30.99 
10


A summary of the Company’s stock option activity is summarized below.
Stock Options Option Shares
Outstanding
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
Weighted Average
Remaining
Life (Years)
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
(in thousands)
Outstanding - December 31, 2022 1,853,064  $ 59.79 
Granted 7,000  64.36 
Exercise of stock options * (115,179) 40.02 
Forfeited (25,000) 84.98 
Outstanding - September 30, 2023 1,719,885  $ 60.76  5.3 $ 20,354 
Exercisable - September 30, 2023 1,260,942  $ 55.09  4.5 $ 20,217 
* The terms of the stock option agreements permit having a number of shares of stock withheld, the fair market value of which as of the date of exercise is sufficient to satisfy the exercise price and/or tax withholding requirements. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, 54,517 such shares were withheld by the Company.
Intrinsic value represents the amount by which the fair market value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of the stock options. The intrinsic value of options exercised for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 was approximately $3.7 million and $3.3 million, respectively.
A summary of the Company’s restricted stock activity is summarized below.
Restricted Stock Weighted Average Grant
Date Fair Value
Restricted Shares
Outstanding
Outstanding - December 31, 2022 $ 76.49  73,490 
Granted 55.65  11,674 
Vested 66.40  (24,574)
Outstanding - September 30, 2023 $ 76.57  60,590 
The Company recognized approximately $4.2 million and $4.6 million of stock-based compensation expense (included in personnel on the consolidated statements of income) for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, associated with its common stock awards granted to officers and employees. In addition, for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company recognized approximately $0.6 million of director expense (included in other expense on the consolidated statements of income) for restricted stock grants totaling 11,674 shares with immediate vesting to directors, while for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company recognized approximately $0.7 million of director expense for restricted stock grants totaling 8,852 shares with immediate vesting to directors, in each case representing the annual stock retainer fee paid to external board members for that year. As of September 30, 2023, there was approximately $14.0 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to equity award grants, which is expected to be recognized over the remaining vesting period of approximately three years. The Company recognized a tax benefit of approximately $0.5 million and $0.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, for the tax impact of stock option exercises and vesting of restricted stock.
11



Note 5 – Securities and Other Investments
Securities
Securities are classified as AFS or HTM on the consolidated balance sheets at the time of purchase. AFS securities include those securities that the Company intends to hold for an indefinite period of time, but not necessarily to maturity, and are carried at fair value on the consolidated balance sheets. HTM securities include those securities which the Company has both the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity, and are carried at amortized cost on the consolidated balance sheets. Premiums and discounts on investment securities are amortized or accreted into interest income over the estimated life of the related securities using the effective interest method.

The amortized cost and fair value of securities AFS and HTM are summarized as follows.
September 30, 2023
(in thousands) Amortized Cost Gross
Unrealized
Gains
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Estimated Fair Value
Securities AFS:
U.S. Treasury securities $ 42,190  $ —  $ 4,686  $ 37,504 
U.S. government agency securities 8,293  74  8,221 
State, county and municipals 387,259  69  45,998  341,330 
Mortgage-backed securities 355,906  —  49,497  306,409 
Corporate debt securities 111,245  —  10,883  100,362 
Total securities AFS $ 904,893  $ 71  $ 111,138  $ 793,826 
December 31, 2022
(in thousands) Amortized Cost Gross
Unrealized
Gains
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Estimated Fair Value
Securities AFS:
U.S. Treasury securities $ 192,116  $ —  $ 8,286  $ 183,830 
U.S. government agency securities 2,133  —  33  2,100 
State, county and municipals 433,733  123  35,668  398,188 
Mortgage-backed securities 227,650  10  26,728  200,932 
Corporate debt securities 140,712  8,147  132,568 
Total securities AFS $ 996,344  $ 136  $ 78,862  $ 917,618 
Securities HTM:
U.S. Treasury securities $ 497,648  $ —  $ 35,722  $ 461,926 
U.S. government agency securities 8,744  46  —  8,790 
State, county and municipals 34,874  —  3,349  31,525 
Mortgage-backed securities 137,862  —  16,751  121,111 
Total securities HTM $ 679,128  $ 46  $ 55,822  $ 623,352 
On March 7, 2023, Nicolet executed the sale of $500 million (par value) U.S. Treasury held to maturity securities for a pre-tax loss of $38 million or an after-tax loss of $28 million. Proceeds from the sale were used to reduce existing FHLB borrowings with the remainder held in investable cash. As a result of the sale of securities previously classified as held to maturity, the remaining unsold portfolio of held to maturity securities, with a book value of $177 million, was reclassified to available for sale with a carrying value of approximately $157 million. The unrealized loss on this portfolio of $20 million (at the time of reclassification) increased the balance of accumulated other comprehensive loss $15 million, net of the deferred tax effect, and is subject to future market changes.
12



Proceeds and realized gains or losses from the sale of AFS and HTM securities were as follows.
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands) 2023 2022
Securities AFS:
Gross gains $ 268  $ 20 
Gross losses (605) (5)
Gains (losses) on sales of securities AFS, net
$ (337) $ 15 
Proceeds from sales of securities AFS $ 28,992  $ 23,984 
Securities HTM:
Gross gains $ —  $ — 
Gross losses (37,723) — 
Gains (losses) on sales of securities HTM, net $ (37,723) $ — 
Proceeds from sales of securities HTM $ 460,051  $ — 
All mortgage-backed securities included in the securities portfolio were issued by U.S. government agencies and corporations. Investment securities with a carrying value of $345 million and $883 million, as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, were pledged as collateral to secure public deposits and borrowings, as applicable, and for liquidity or other purposes as required by regulation. Accrued interest on investment securities totaled $5 million at both September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, and is included in accrued interest receivable and other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.

The following table presents gross unrealized losses and the related estimated fair value of investment securities for which an allowance for credit losses has not been recorded, aggregated by investment category and length of time individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position.
September 30, 2023
Less than 12 months 12 months or more Total
($ in thousands) Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
Number of
Securities
Securities AFS:
U.S. Treasury securities $ —  $ —  $ 37,504  $ 4,686  $ 37,504  $ 4,686 
U.S. government agency securities 5,396  32  1,798  42  7,194  74  10 
State, county and municipals 66,415  5,460  263,740  40,538  330,155  45,998  710 
Mortgage-backed securities 19,959  268  286,450  49,229  306,409  49,497  451 
Corporate debt securities 3,336  223  92,607  10,660  95,943  10,883  67 
Total
$ 95,106  $ 5,983  $ 682,099  $ 105,155  $ 777,205  $ 111,138  1,242 
December 31, 2022
Less than 12 months 12 months or more Total
($ in thousands) Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
Number of
Securities
Securities AFS:
U.S. Treasury securities $ 448  $ 14  $ 183,382  $ 8,272  $ 183,830  $ 8,286 
U.S. government agency securities 2,083  32  17  2,100  33 
State, county and municipals 277,546  18,041  86,569  17,627  364,115  35,668  812 
Mortgage-backed securities 102,108  11,320  95,614  15,408  197,722  26,728  376 
Corporate debt securities 114,887  6,186  12,938  1,961  127,825  8,147  90 
Total
$ 497,072  $ 35,593  $ 378,520  $ 43,269  $ 875,592  $ 78,862  1,296 
Securities HTM:
U.S. Treasury securities $ —  $ —  $ 461,926  $ 35,722  $ 461,926  $ 35,722 
State, county and municipals 17,591  1,594  11,654  1,755  29,245  3,349  58 
Mortgage-backed securities 68,108  8,029  53,003  8,722  121,111  16,751  106 
Total
$ 85,699  $ 9,623  $ 526,583  $ 46,199  $ 612,282  $ 55,822  170 
13


During first quarter 2023, the Company recognized provision expense of $2.3 million related to the expected credit loss on its Signature Bank sub debt investment (acquired in an acquisition), and immediately charged-off the full investment. The Company does not consider its remaining securities AFS with unrealized losses to be attributable to credit-related factors, as the unrealized losses in each category have occurred as a result of changes in noncredit-related factors such as changes in interest rates, market spreads and market conditions subsequent to purchase, not credit deterioration. Furthermore, the Company does not have the intent to sell any of these AFS securities and believes that it is more likely than not that we will not have to sell any such securities before a recovery of cost. As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, no allowance for credit losses on AFS securities was recognized.
The Company evaluated the HTM securities and determined no allowance for credit losses was necessary at December 31, 2022. The U.S. Treasury and U.S. government agency securities are guaranteed by the U.S. government. For the state, county and municipal securities, management considered issuer bond ratings, historical loss rates by bond ratings, whether issuers continue to make timely principal and interest payments per the contractual terms of the investment securities, internal forecasts, and whether or not such investment securities provide insurance, other credit enhancement, or are pre-refunded by the issuers. For the mortgage-backed securities, all such securities were issued by U.S. government agencies and corporations, which are currently explicitly or implicitly guaranteed by the U.S. government and have a long history of no credit losses.
The amortized cost and fair value of investment securities by contractual maturity are shown below. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties; as this is particularly inherent in mortgage-backed securities, these securities are not included in the maturity categories below.
As of September 30, 2023
Securities AFS
(in thousands) Amortized Cost Fair Value
Due in less than one year $ 65,155  $ 64,470 
Due in one year through five years 162,719  147,803 
Due after five years through ten years 207,337  177,658 
Due after ten years 113,776  97,486 
548,987  487,417 
Mortgage-backed securities 355,906  306,409 
Total investment securities $ 904,893  $ 793,826 
Other Investments
Other investments include “restricted” equity securities, equity securities with readily determinable fair values, and private company securities. As a member of the Federal Reserve Bank System and the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) System, Nicolet is required to maintain an investment in the capital stock of these entities. These equity securities are “restricted” in that they can only be sold back to the respective institutions or another member institution at par. Therefore, they are less liquid than other exchange traded equity securities. As no ready market exists for these stocks, and they have no quoted market value, these investments are carried at cost. Also included are investments in other private companies that do not have quoted market prices, which are carried at cost less impairment charges, if any. The carrying value of other investments are summarized as follows.
September 30, 2023 December 31, 2022
(in thousands) Amount Amount
Federal Reserve Bank stock
$ 33,050  $ 32,219 
Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) stock
9,674  18,625 
Equity securities with readily determinable fair values 3,893  4,376 
Other investments 11,750  10,066 
Total other investments $ 58,367  $ 65,286 
14



Note 6 – Loans, Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans, and Credit Quality
The loan composition is summarized as follows.
September 30, 2023 December 31, 2022
(in thousands) Amount % of
Total
Amount % of
Total
Commercial & industrial $ 1,237,789  20  % $ 1,304,819  21  %
Owner-occupied commercial real estate (“CRE”) 971,397  16  954,599  15 
Agricultural 1,108,261  18  1,088,607  18 
CRE investment 1,130,938  18  1,149,949  19 
Construction & land development 326,747  318,600 
Residential construction 76,289  114,392 
Residential first mortgage 1,136,748  18  1,016,935  16 
Residential junior mortgage 195,432  177,332 
Retail & other 55,656  55,266 
Loans
6,239,257  100  % 6,180,499  100  %
Less allowance for credit losses - Loans (“ACL-Loans”) 63,160  61,829 
Loans, net
$ 6,176,097  $ 6,118,670 
Allowance for credit losses - Loans to loans 1.01  % 1.00  %
Accrued interest on loans totaled $19 million and $15 million at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, and is included in accrued interest receivable and other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.
Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans:
The majority of the Company’s loans, commitments, and letters of credit have been granted to customers in the Company’s market area. Although the Company has a diversified loan portfolio, the credit risk in the loan portfolio is largely influenced by general economic conditions and trends of the counties and markets in which the debtors operate, and the resulting impact on the operations of borrowers or on the value of underlying collateral, if any.
A roll forward of the allowance for credit losses - loans is summarized as follows.
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Year Ended
(in thousands) September 30, 2023 September 30, 2022 September 30, 2023 September 30, 2022 December 31, 2022
Beginning balance $ 62,811  $ 50,655  $ 61,829  $ 49,672  $ 49,672 
ACL on PCD loans acquired —  1,709  —  1,709  1,937 
Provision for credit losses 450  8,200  1,650  9,100  10,950 
Charge-offs (346) (300) (1,091) (442) (1,033)
Recoveries 245  84  772  309  303 
Net (charge-offs) recoveries (101) (216) (319) (133) (730)
Ending balance $ 63,160  $ 60,348  $ 63,160  $ 60,348  $ 61,829 
15


The following tables present the balance and activity in the ACL-Loans by portfolio segment.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
(in thousands) Commercial
& industrial
Owner-
occupied
CRE
Agricultural CRE
investment
Construction & land
development
Residential
construction
Residential
first mortgage
Residential
junior
mortgage
Retail
& other
Total
ACL-Loans
Beginning balance $ 16,350  $ 9,138  $ 9,762  $ 12,744  $ 2,572  $ 1,412  $ 6,976  $ 1,846  $ 1,029  $ 61,829 
Provision (1,518) 48  2,467  46  96  (484) 336  295  364  1,650 
Charge-offs (403) (301) (66) —  —  —  —  (96) (225) (1,091)
Recoveries 518  241  —  —  —  —  772 
Net (charge-offs) recoveries 115  (60) (63) —  —  —  (96) (218) (319)
Ending balance $ 14,947  $ 9,126  $ 12,166  $ 12,790  $ 2,668  $ 928  $ 7,315  $ 2,045  $ 1,175  $ 63,160 
As % of ACL-Loans 24  % 14  % 19  % 20  % % % 12  % % % 100  %

Year Ended December 31, 2022
(in thousands) Commercial
& industrial
Owner-
occupied
CRE
Agricultural CRE
investment
Construction
& land
development
Residential
construction
Residential
first
mortgage
Residential
junior
mortgage
Retail &
other
 
Total
ACL-Loans
Beginning balance $ 12,613  $ 7,222  $ 9,547  $ 8,462  $ 1,812  $ 900  $ 6,844  $ 1,340  $ 932  $ 49,672 
ACL on PCD loans 1,408  384  —  38  —  93  12  —  1,937 
Provision 2,415  2,087  215  4,075  758  512  96  493  299  10,950 
Charge-offs (190) (555) —  —  —  —  (65) —  (223) (1,033)
Recoveries 104  —  —  169  —  —  21  303 
Net (charge-offs) recoveries (86) (555) —  169  —  —  (57) (202) (730)
Ending balance $ 16,350  $ 9,138  $ 9,762  $ 12,744  $ 2,572  $ 1,412  $ 6,976  $ 1,846  $ 1,029  $ 61,829 
As % of ACL-Loans 26  % 15  % 16  % 21  % % % 11  % % % 100  %
The ACL-Loans represents management’s estimate of expected credit losses in the Company’s loan portfolio at the balance sheet date. To assess the appropriateness of the ACL-Loans, management applies an allocation methodology which focuses on evaluation of qualitative and environmental factors, including but not limited to: (i) evaluation of facts and issues related to specific loans; (ii) management’s ongoing review and grading of the loan portfolio; (iii) consideration of historical loan loss and delinquency experience on each portfolio segment; (iv) trends in past due and nonperforming loans; (v) the risk characteristics of the various loan segments; (vi) changes in the size and character of the loan portfolio; (vii) concentrations of loans to specific borrowers or industries; (viii) existing economic conditions; (ix) the fair value of underlying collateral; and (x) other qualitative and quantitative factors which could affect expected credit losses. Assessing these numerous factors involves significant judgment.
Management allocates the ACL-Loans by pools of risk within each loan portfolio segment. The allocation methodology consists of the following components. First, a specific reserve is established for individually evaluated credit-deteriorated loans, which management defines as nonaccrual credit relationships over $250,000, collateral dependent loans, purchased credit deteriorated loans, and other loans with evidence of credit deterioration. The specific reserve in the ACL-Loans for these credit deteriorated loans is equal to the aggregate collateral or discounted cash flow shortfall. Management allocates the ACL-Loans with historical loss rates by loan segment. The loss factors are measured on a quarterly basis and applied to each loan segment based on current loan balances and projected for their expected remaining life. Next, management allocates the ACL-Loans using the qualitative factors mentioned above. Consideration is given to those current qualitative or environmental factors that are likely to cause estimated credit losses as of the evaluation date to differ from the historical loss experience of each loan segment. Lastly, management considers reasonable and supportable forecasts to assess the collectability of future cash flows.
Allowance for Credit Losses-Unfunded Commitments:
In addition to the ACL-Loans, the Company has established an ACL-Unfunded commitments, classified in accrued interest payable and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. This reserve is maintained at a level that management believes is sufficient to absorb losses arising from unfunded loan commitments, and is determined quarterly based on methodology similar to the methodology for determining the ACL-Loans. The reserve for unfunded commitments was $3.0 million at both September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.
Provision for Credit Losses:
The provision for credit losses is determined by the Company as the amount to be added to the ACL loss accounts for various types of financial instruments including loans, investment securities, and off-balance sheet credit exposures after net charge-offs have been deducted to bring the ACL to a level that, in management’s judgment, is necessary to absorb expected credit losses over the lives of the respective financial instruments. See Note 5 for additional information regarding the ACL related to investment securities. The following table presents the components of the provision for credit losses.
16


Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Year Ended
(in thousands) September 30, 2023 September 30, 2022 September 30, 2023 September 30, 2022 December 31, 2022
Provision for credit losses on:
Loans $ 450  $ 8,200  $ 1,650  $ 9,100  $ 10,950 
Unfunded commitments —  400  —  550  550 
Investment securities —  —  2,340  —  — 
Total $ 450  $ 8,600  $ 3,990  $ 9,650  $ 11,500 
Collateral Dependent Loans:
A loan is considered to be collateral dependent when, based upon management’s assessment, the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty and repayment is expected to be provided substantially through the operation or sale of the collateral. For collateral dependent loans, expected credit losses are based on the estimated fair value of the collateral at the balance sheet date, with consideration for estimated selling costs if satisfaction of the loan depends on the sale of the collateral. The following tables present collateral dependent loans by portfolio segment and collateral type, including those loans with and without a related allowance allocation.
September 30, 2023 Collateral Type
(in thousands) Real Estate Other Business Assets Total Without an Allowance With an Allowance Allowance Allocation
Commercial & industrial $ —  $ 3,402  $ 3,402  $ 2,351  $ 1,051  $ 230 
Owner-occupied CRE 4,827  —  4,827  4,827  —  — 
Agricultural 7,629  5,811  13,440  8,530  4,910  123 
CRE investment 942  —  942  552  390  19 
Construction & land development —  —  —  —  —  — 
Residential first mortgage 686  —  686  686  —  — 
Residential junior mortgage —  —  —  —  —  — 
Total loans $ 14,084  $ 9,213  $ 23,297  $ 16,946  $ 6,351  $ 372 

December 31, 2022 Collateral Type
(in thousands) Real Estate Other Business Assets Total Without an Allowance With an Allowance Allowance Allocation
Commercial & industrial $ —  $ 3,475  $ 3,475  $ 1,927  $ 1,548  $ 595 
Owner-occupied CRE 4,907  —  4,907  4,699  208  53 
Agricultural 13,758  6,458  20,216  14,358  5,858  261 
CRE investment 2,713  —  2,713  979  1,734  212 
Construction & land development 670  —  670  670  —  — 
Residential first mortgage 91  —  91  91  —  — 
Total loans $ 22,139  $ 9,933  $ 32,072  $ 22,724  $ 9,348  $ 1,121 


17


Past Due and Nonaccrual Loans:
The following tables present past due loans by portfolio segment.
September 30, 2023
(in thousands) 30-89 Days Past
Due (accruing)
90 Days & Over or nonaccrual Current Total
Commercial & industrial $ 281  $ 5,192  $ 1,232,316  $ 1,237,789 
Owner-occupied CRE 76  5,602  965,719  971,397 
Agricultural 151  13,458  1,094,652  1,108,261 
CRE investment 240  1,100  1,129,598  1,130,938 
Construction & land development 23  177  326,547  326,747 
Residential construction —  —  76,289  76,289 
Residential first mortgage 1,710  3,812  1,131,226  1,136,748 
Residential junior mortgage 67  92  195,273  195,432 
Retail & other 729  74  54,853  55,656 
Total loans $ 3,277  $ 29,507  $ 6,206,473  $ 6,239,257 
Percent of total loans 0.1  % 0.5  % 99.4  % 100.0  %
December 31, 2022
(in thousands) 30-89 Days Past
Due (accruing)
90 Days & Over or nonaccrual Current Total
Commercial & industrial $ 210  $ 3,328  $ 1,301,281  $ 1,304,819 
Owner-occupied CRE 833  5,647  948,119  954,599 
Agricultural 20  20,416  1,068,171  1,088,607 
CRE investment —  3,832  1,146,117  1,149,949 
Construction & land development —  771  317,829  318,600 
Residential construction —  —  114,392  114,392 
Residential first mortgage 3,628  3,780  1,009,527  1,016,935 
Residential junior mortgage 236  224  176,872  177,332 
Retail & other 261  82  54,923  55,266 
Total loans $ 5,188  $ 38,080  $ 6,137,231  $ 6,180,499 
Percent of total loans 0.1  % 0.6  % 99.3  % 100.0  %

The following table presents nonaccrual loans by portfolio segment.
September 30, 2023 December 31, 2022
(in thousands) Nonaccrual Loans % of Total Nonaccrual Loans % of Total
Commercial & industrial $ 5,192  17  % $ 3,328  %
Owner-occupied CRE 5,602  19  5,647  15 
Agricultural 13,458  46  20,416  53 
CRE investment 1,100  3,832  10 
Construction & land development 177  771 
Residential construction —  —  —  — 
Residential first mortgage 3,812  13  3,780  10 
Residential junior mortgage 92  —  224 
Retail & other 74  —  82  — 
Nonaccrual loans
$ 29,507  100  % $ 38,080  100  %
Percent of total loans 0.5  % 0.6  %

18


Credit Quality Information:
The following tables present total loans by risk categories and gross charge-offs by year of origination. Acquired loans have been included based upon the actual origination date.
September 30, 2023 Amortized Cost Basis by Origination Year
(in thousands) 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 Prior Revolving Revolving to Term TOTAL
Commercial & industrial
Grades 1-4 $ 152,385  $ 254,446  $ 184,778  $ 73,488  $ 53,351  $ 96,269  $ 334,059  $ —  $ 1,148,776 
Grade 5 5,350  10,296  6,779  2,908  1,246  7,364  24,477  —  58,420 
Grade 6 —  591  612  194  1,028  1,850  —  4,279 
Grade 7 4,444  4,600  2,653  2,372  1,952  7,205  3,088  —  26,314 
Total $ 162,179  $ 269,933  $ 194,822  $ 78,962  $ 56,553  $ 111,866  $ 363,474  $ —  $ 1,237,789 
Current period gross charge-offs $ —  $ (77) $ (114) $ —  $ —  $ (197) $ (15) $ —  $ (403)
Owner-occupied CRE
Grades 1-4 $ 101,687  $ 157,461  $ 186,745  $ 98,057  $ 90,223  $ 277,024  $ 3,114  $ —  $ 914,311 
Grade 5 949  3,754  9,854  5,362  1,481  15,158  212  —  36,770 
Grade 6 —  —  348  1,545  605  150  —  —  2,648 
Grade 7 —  218  1,024  6,916  354  8,861  295  —  17,668 
Total $ 102,636  $ 161,433  $ 197,971  $ 111,880  $ 92,663  $ 301,193  $ 3,621  $ —  $ 971,397 
Current period gross charge-offs $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ (301) $ —  $ —  $ (301)
Agricultural
Grades 1-4 $ 72,777  $ 282,254  $ 136,796  $ 80,960  $ 23,694  $ 144,223  $ 252,202  $ —  $ 992,906 
Grade 5 2,809  11,201  6,003  725  384  33,751  14,316  —  69,189 
Grade 6 —  134  1,114  —  51  2,293  207  —  3,799 
Grade 7 3,851  6,898  6,455  492  1,865  14,764  8,042  —  42,367 
Total $ 79,437  $ 300,487  $ 150,368  $ 82,177  $ 25,994  $ 195,031  $ 274,767  $ —  $ 1,108,261 
Current period gross charge-offs $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ (66) $ —  $ —  $ (66)
CRE investment
Grades 1-4 $ 27,123  $ 183,799  $ 247,563  $ 172,237  $ 117,114  $ 294,916  $ 11,445  $ —  $ 1,054,197 
Grade 5 2,802  7,859  14,857  8,634  10,066  21,927  49  —  66,194 
Grade 6 —  —  —  —  —  1,357  65  —  1,422 
Grade 7 —  55  21  —  1,043  8,006  —  —  9,125 
Total $ 29,925  $ 191,713  $ 262,441  $ 180,871  $ 128,223  $ 326,206  $ 11,559  $ —  $ 1,130,938 
Current period gross charge-offs $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ — 
Construction & land development
Grades 1-4 $ 37,180  $ 153,809  $ 88,212  $ 9,610  $ 5,288  $ 28,329  $ 2,070  $ —  $ 324,498 
Grade 5 —  26  127  1,275  508  89  —  —  2,025 
Grade 6 —  —  —  —  —  —  —  —  — 
Grade 7 47  —  —  —  —  92  85  —  224 
Total $ 37,227  $ 153,835  $ 88,339  $ 10,885  $ 5,796  $ 28,510  $ 2,155  $ —  $ 326,747 
Current period gross charge-offs $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ — 
Residential construction
Grades 1-4 $ 35,996  $ 32,539  $ 5,279  $ 1,101  $ 125  $ 1,209  $ 40  $ —  $ 76,289 
Grade 5 —  —  —  —  —  —  —  —  — 
Grade 6 —  —  —  —  —  —  —  —  — 
Grade 7 —  —  —  —  —  —  —  —  — 
Total $ 35,996  $ 32,539  $ 5,279  $ 1,101  $ 125  $ 1,209  $ 40  $ —  $ 76,289 
Current period gross charge-offs $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ — 
Residential first mortgage
Grades 1-4 $ 125,176  $ 377,475  $ 256,628  $ 134,035  $ 59,281  $ 168,739  $ 614  $ $ 1,121,951 
Grade 5 —  1,296  1,259  1,262  2,538  2,684  —  —  9,039 
Grade 6 —  —  —  —  —  —  —  —  — 
Grade 7 —  150  467  485  1,074  3,582  —  —  5,758 
Total $ 125,176  $ 378,921  $ 258,354  $ 135,782  $ 62,893  $ 175,005  $ 614  $ $ 1,136,748 
Current period gross charge-offs $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ — 
Residential junior mortgage
Grades 1-4 $ 12,538  $ 7,607  $ 3,915  $ 4,360  $ 2,848  $ 4,110  $ 153,322  $ 6,446  $ 195,146 
Grade 5 —  —  —  —  —  —  —  —  — 
Grade 6 —  —  —  —  —  —  —  —  — 
Grade 7 —  32  202  —  —  14  38  —  286 
Total $ 12,538  $ 7,639  $ 4,117  $ 4,360  $ 2,848  $ 4,124  $ 153,360  $ 6,446  $ 195,432 
Current period gross charge-offs $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ (96) $ —  $ —  $ (96)
Retail & other
Grades 1-4 $ 7,281  $ 8,932  $ 6,202  $ 2,925  $ 2,045  $ 4,042  $ 24,107  $ —  $ 55,534 
Grade 5 —  —  18  —  —  —  —  —  18 
Grade 6 —  —  —  —  —  —  —  —  — 
Grade 7 —  —  26  10  67  —  —  104 
Total $ 7,281  $ 8,932  $ 6,246  $ 2,935  $ 2,046  $ 4,109  $ 24,107  $ —  $ 55,656 
Current period gross charge-offs $ (6) $ (1) $ —  $ (1) $ —  $ (52) $ (165) $ —  $ (225)
Total loans $ 592,395  $ 1,505,432  $ 1,167,937  $ 608,953  $ 377,141  $ 1,147,253  $ 833,697  $ 6,449  $ 6,239,257 

19


December 31, 2022 Amortized Cost Basis by Origination Year
(in thousands) 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 Prior Revolving Revolving to Term TOTAL
Commercial & industrial
Grades 1-4 $ 317,394  $ 226,065  $ 101,374  $ 68,884  $ 50,189  $ 77,589  $ 360,978  $ —  $ 1,202,473 
Grade 5 9,938  5,902  10,811  1,530  3,986  4,562  20,617  —  57,346 
Grade 6 1,459  2,283  629  511  402  11,653  14,047  —  30,984 
Grade 7 556  293  3,211  2,990  775  1,070  5,121  —  14,016 
Total $ 329,347  $ 234,543  $ 116,025  $ 73,915  $ 55,352  $ 94,874  $ 400,763  $ —  $ 1,304,819 
Current period gross charge-offs $ (38) $ (41) $ (2) $ —  $ (109) $ —  $ —  $ —  $ (190)
Owner-occupied CRE
Grades 1-4 $ 151,391  $ 190,313  $ 105,156  $ 100,606  $ 91,479  $ 252,574  $ 6,734  $ —  $ 898,253 
Grade 5 5,241  3,192  4,287  2,163  4,791  14,632  348  —  34,654 
Grade 6 —  —  763  2,361  —  877  —  —  4,001 
Grade 7 227  706  6,344  616  —  9,798  —  —  17,691 
Total $ 156,859  $ 194,211  $ 116,550  $ 105,746  $ 96,270  $ 277,881  $ 7,082  $ —  $ 954,599 
Current period gross charge-offs $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ (555) $ —  $ —  $ (555)
Agricultural
Grades 1-4 $ 275,208  $ 145,272  $ 85,413  $ 25,463  $ 19,687  $ 130,849  $ 249,033  $ —  $ 930,925 
Grade 5 13,295  18,178  2,694  1,992  517  43,927  21,199  —  101,802 
Grade 6 115  1,457  28  33  —  5,258  429  —  7,320 
Grade 7 7,165  2,632  720  1,977  4,611  19,948  11,507  —  48,560 
Total $ 295,783  $ 167,539  $ 88,855  $ 29,465  $ 24,815  $ 199,982  $ 282,168  $ —  $ 1,088,607 
Current period gross charge-offs $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ — 
CRE investment
Grades 1-4 $ 205,930  $ 229,252  $ 192,527  $ 134,301  $ 79,649  $ 248,595  $ 11,383  $ —  $ 1,101,637 
Grade 5 567  1,649  3,578  4,266  3,086  24,897  —  —  38,043 
Grade 6 —  —  —  1,170  2,396  2,483  206  —  6,255 
Grade 7 —  —  121  299  245  3,140  209  —  4,014 
Total $ 206,497  $ 230,901  $ 196,226  $ 140,036  $ 85,376  $ 279,115  $ 11,798  $ —  $ 1,149,949 
Current period gross charge-offs $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ — 
Construction & land development
Grades 1-4 $ 104,804  $ 140,727  $ 12,188  $ 9,747  $ 23,811  $ 13,138  $ 13,235  $ —  $ 317,650 
Grade 5 37  —  —  14  —  95  —  —  146 
Grade 6 —  —  —  —  —  —  —  —  — 
Grade 7 33  —  —  —  —  771  —  —  804 
Total $ 104,874  $ 140,727  $ 12,188  $ 9,761  $ 23,811  $ 14,004  $ 13,235  $ —  $ 318,600 
Current period gross charge-offs $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ — 
Residential construction
Grades 1-4 $ 92,417  $ 16,774  $ 966  $ 123  $ 336  $ 229  $ 3,547  $ —  $ 114,392 
Grade 5 —  —  —  —  —  —  —  —  — 
Grade 6 —  —  —  —  —  —  —  —  — 
Grade 7 —  —  —  —  —  —  —  —  — 
Total $ 92,417  $ 16,774  $ 966  $ 123  $ 336  $ 229  $ 3,547  $ —  $ 114,392 
Current period gross charge-offs $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ — 
Residential first mortgage
Grades 1-4 $ 318,628  $ 272,011  $ 147,857  $ 68,975  $ 31,208  $ 162,153  $ 2,080  $ $ 1,002,915 
Grade 5 1,494  758  997  1,803  2,272  465  —  —  7,789 
Grade 6 —  —  —  711  —  —  —  —  711 
Grade 7 154  329  188  349  197  4,303  —  —  5,520 
Total $ 320,276  $ 273,098  $ 149,042  $ 71,838  $ 33,677  $ 166,921  $ 2,080  $ $ 1,016,935 
Current period gross charge-offs $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ (65) $ —  $ —  $ (65)
Residential junior mortgage
Grades 1-4 $ 10,119  $ 4,580  $ 5,207  $ 3,151  $ 1,573  $ 3,409  $ 142,784  $ 5,762  $ 176,585 
Grade 5 —  —  —  —  —  143  165  —  308 
Grade 6 —  —  —  —  —  —  —  —  — 
Grade 7 —  206  —  —  —  24  209  —  439 
Total $ 10,119  $ 4,786  $ 5,207  $ 3,151  $ 1,573  $ 3,576  $ 143,158  $ 5,762  $ 177,332 
Current period gross charge-offs $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ — 
Retail & other
Grades 1-4 $ 12,318  $ 8,957  $ 4,221  $ 3,188  $ 1,035  $ 24,950  $ 492  $ —  $ 55,161 
Grade 5 —  23  —  —  —  —  —  —  23 
Grade 6 —  —  —  —  —  —  —  —  — 
Grade 7 —  23  22  30  —  —  82 
Total $ 12,318  $ 9,003  $ 4,243  $ 3,190  $ 1,065  $ 24,955  $ 492  $ —  $ 55,266 
Current period gross charge-offs $ —  $ (1) $ (6) $ (1) $ —  $ —  $ (215) $ —  $ (223)
Total loans $ 1,528,490  $ 1,271,582  $ 689,302  $ 437,225  $ 322,275  $ 1,061,537  $ 864,323  $ 5,765  $ 6,180,499 

20


An internal loan review function rates loans using a grading system based on different risk categories. Loans with a Substandard grade are considered to have a greater risk of loss and may be assigned allocations for loss based on specific review of the weaknesses observed in the individual credits. Such loans are monitored by the loan review function to help ensure early identification of any deterioration. A description of the loan risk categories used by the Company follows.
Grades 1-4, Pass: Credits exhibit adequate cash flows, appropriate management and financial ratios within industry norms and/or are supported by sufficient collateral. Some credits in these rating categories may require a need for monitoring but elements of concern are not severe enough to warrant an elevated rating.
Grade 5, Watch: Credits with this rating are adequately secured and performing but are being monitored due to the presence of various short-term weaknesses which may include unexpected, short-term adverse financial performance, managerial problems, potential impact of a decline in the entire industry or local economy and delinquency issues. Loans to individuals or loans supported by guarantors with marginal net worth or collateral may be included in this rating category.
Grade 6, Special Mention: Credits with this rating have potential weaknesses that, without the Company’s attention and correction may result in deterioration of repayment prospects. These assets are considered Criticized Assets. Potential weaknesses may include adverse financial trends for the borrower or industry, repeated lack of compliance with Company requests, increasing debt to net worth, serious management conditions and decreasing cash flow.
Grade 7, Substandard: Assets with this rating are characterized by the distinct possibility the Company will sustain some loss if deficiencies are not corrected. All foreclosures, liquidations, and nonaccrual loans are considered to be categorized in this rating, regardless of collateral sufficiency.
Modifications to Borrowers Experiencing Financial Difficulty:
On January 1, 2023, the Company adopted ASU 2022-02, which eliminated the accounting guidance for TDRs by creditors and enhanced the disclosure requirements for certain loan modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. The following table presents the amortized cost of loans that were both experiencing financial difficulty and were modified during the nine months ended September 30, 2023, aggregated by portfolio segment and type of modification.
(in thousands) Payment Delay Term Extension Interest Rate Reduction Term Extension & Interest Rate Reduction Total % of Total Loans
Commercial & industrial $ 433  $ —  $ 87  $ —  $ 520  0.04  %
Owner-occupied CRE —  —  —  —  —  —  %
Agricultural 107  —  —  —  107  0.01  %
CRE investment —  —  —  —  —  —  %
Construction & land development —  —  —  —  —  —  %
Residential first mortgage —  —  —  —  —  —  %
Total $ 540  $ —  $ 87  $ —  $ 627  0.01  %
The loans presented in the table above have had more than insignificant payment delays (which the Company has defined as payment delays in excess of three months). These modified loans are closely monitored by the Company to understand the effectiveness of its modification efforts, and such loans generally remain in nonaccrual status pending a sustained period of performance in accordance with the modified terms.
As of September 30, 2023, there were no loans made to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty that were modified during the current period and subsequently defaulted, and there were no commitments to lend additional funds to such debtors.
Troubled Debt Restructuring Disclosures Prior to Adoption of ASU 2022-02:
As of December 31, 2022, the Company had restructured loans totaling $18 million, with a pre-modification balance of $24 million, all of which were also reflected as nonaccrual loans. There were no restructured loans modified during 2022 that subsequently defaulted, and there were no commitments to lend additional funds to such debtors.

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Note 7 – Goodwill and Other Intangibles and Servicing Rights
Management periodically reviews the carrying value of its intangible assets to determine if any impairment has occurred, in which case an impairment charge would be recorded as an expense in the period of impairment, or whether changes in circumstances have occurred that would require a revision to the remaining useful life that would affect expense prospectively. In making such determination, management evaluates whether there are any adverse qualitative factors indicating that an impairment may exist, as well as the performance of the underlying operations or assets which give rise to the intangible. Management also regularly monitors economic factors for potential impairment indications on the value of our franchise, stability of deposits, and the wealth client base, underlying our goodwill and other intangibles. Management concluded no impairment was indicated for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and the year ended December 31, 2022. A summary of goodwill and other intangibles was as follows.
(in thousands) September 30, 2023 December 31, 2022
Goodwill $ 367,387  $ 367,387 
Core deposit intangibles 26,842  32,701 
Customer list intangibles 1,979  2,350 
    Other intangibles 28,821  35,051 
Goodwill and other intangibles, net $ 396,208  $ 402,438 
Goodwill: A summary of goodwill was as follows. During 2022, goodwill increased due to the Charter acquisition.
Nine Months Ended Year Ended
(in thousands) September 30, 2023 December 31, 2022
Goodwill:
Goodwill at beginning of year $ 367,387  $ 317,189 
Acquisitions —  49,970 
Purchase accounting adjustment —  228 
Goodwill at end of period $ 367,387  $ 367,387 
Other intangible assets: Other intangible assets, consisting of core deposit intangibles and customer list intangibles, are amortized over their estimated finite lives. A summary of other intangible assets was as follows. During 2022, core deposit intangibles increased due to the Charter acquisition.
Nine Months Ended Year Ended
(in thousands) September 30, 2023 December 31, 2022
Core deposit intangibles:
Gross carrying amount $ 60,724  $ 60,724 
Accumulated amortization (33,882) (28,023)
Net book value $ 26,842  $ 32,701 
Additions during the period $ —  $ 19,364 
Amortization during the period $ 5,859  $ 6,108 
Customer list intangibles:
Gross carrying amount $ 5,523  $ 5,523 
Accumulated amortization (3,544) (3,173)
Net book value $ 1,979  $ 2,350 
Amortization during the period $ 371  $ 508 
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Mortgage servicing rights (“MSR”): Mortgage servicing rights are amortized in proportion to and over the period of estimated net servicing income, and assessed for impairment at each reporting date, with the amortization recorded in mortgage income, net, in the consolidated statements of income. Mortgage servicing rights are carried at the lower of the initial capitalized amount, net of accumulated amortization, or estimated fair value, and are included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company periodically evaluates its mortgage servicing rights asset for impairment. At each reporting date, impairment is assessed based on estimated fair value using estimated prepayment speeds of the underlying mortgage loans serviced and stratification based on the risk characteristics of the underlying loans (predominantly loan type and note interest rate). A summary of the changes in the mortgage servicing rights asset was as follows.
Nine Months Ended Year Ended
(in thousands) September 30, 2023 December 31, 2022
Mortgage servicing rights asset:
MSR asset at beginning of year $ 13,080  $ 13,636 
Capitalized MSR 1,104  2,327 
Amortization during the period (2,248) (2,883)
MSR asset at end of period $ 11,936  $ 13,080 
Valuation allowance at beginning of year $ (500) $ (1,200)
Reversals 500  700 
Valuation allowance at end of period $ —  $ (500)
MSR asset, net $ 11,936  $ 12,580 
Fair value of MSR asset at end of period $ 15,847  $ 17,215 
Residential mortgage loans serviced for others $ 1,610,318  $ 1,637,109 
Net book value of MSR asset to loans serviced for others 0.74  % 0.77  %
Loan servicing rights (“LSR”): The Company acquired an LSR asset in December 2021 which will be amortized over the estimated remaining loan service period. The Company does not expect to add new loans to this servicing portfolio. A summary of the changes in the LSR asset were as follows.
Nine Months Ended Year Ended
(in thousands) September 30, 2023 December 31, 2022
Loan servicing rights asset:
LSR asset at beginning of year $ 11,039  $ 20,055 
Amortization during the period (1,656) (9,016)
LSR asset at end of period $ 9,383  $ 11,039 
Agricultural loans serviced for others $ 502,901  $ 538,392 
The following table shows the estimated future amortization expense for amortizing intangible assets and the servicing assets. The projections are based on existing asset balances, the current interest rate environment and estimated prepayment speeds as of September 30, 2023. The actual amortization expense the Company recognizes in any given period may be significantly different depending upon acquisition or sale activities, changes in interest rates, prepayment speeds, market conditions, regulatory requirements and events or circumstances that indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.
(in thousands) Core deposit
intangibles
Customer list
intangibles
MSR asset LSR asset
Year ending December 31,
2023 (remaining three months)
$ 1,730  $ 112  $ 687  $ 552 
2024 6,298  449  2,661  1,962 
2025 5,161  449  1,978  1,717 
2026 3,983  249  1,457  1,472 
2027 3,218  166  1,457  1,227 
2028 2,622  166  1,456  981 
Thereafter 3,830  388  2,240  1,472 
Total $ 26,842  $ 1,979  $ 11,936  $ 9,383 


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Note 8 – Short and Long-Term Borrowings
Short-Term Borrowings:
Short-term borrowings include any borrowing with an original maturity of one year or less. The Company did not have any short-term borrowings outstanding at September 30, 2023. At December 31, 2022, short-term borrowings included $317 million of short-term FHLB advances, comprised of $117 million due in January 2023 at a weighted average rate of 4.29% and $200 million due in September 2023 at a weighted average rate of 4.30%.
Long-Term Borrowings:
Long-term borrowings include any borrowing with an original maturity greater than one year. The components of long-term borrowings were as follows.
(in thousands) September 30, 2023 December 31, 2022
FHLB advances $ 5,000  $ 33,000 
Junior subordinated debentures 40,344  39,720 
Subordinated notes 152,410  152,622 
Total long-term borrowings
$ 197,754  $ 225,342 
FHLB Advances: The Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) advance bears a fixed rate, requires interest-only monthly payments, and has a maturity date of March 2025. The weighted average rate of the FHLB advances was 1.55% at September 30, 2023 and 1.09% at December 31, 2022.
Junior Subordinated Debentures: Each of the junior subordinated debentures was issued to an underlying statutory trust (the “statutory trusts”), which issued trust preferred securities and common securities and used the proceeds from the issuance of the common and the trust preferred securities to purchase the junior subordinated debentures of the Company. The debentures represent the sole asset of the statutory trusts. All of the common securities of the statutory trusts are owned by the Company. The statutory trusts are not included in the consolidated financial statements. The net effect of all the documents entered into with respect to the trust preferred securities is that the Company, through payments on its debentures, is liable for the distributions and other payments required on the trust preferred securities. Interest on all debentures is current. Any applicable discounts (initially recorded to carry an acquired debenture at its then estimated fair value) are being accreted to interest expense over the remaining life of the debenture. All the junior subordinated debentures are currently callable and may be redeemed in part or in full, at par, plus any accrued but unpaid interest. At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, approximately $39 million and $38 million, respectively, of trust preferred securities qualify as Tier 1 capital.

Subordinated Notes (the “Notes”): In July 2021, the Company completed the private placement of $100 million in fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due in 2031, with a fixed annual rate of 3.125% for the first five years, and will reset quarterly thereafter to the then current three-month Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) plus 237.5 basis points. The Notes due in 2031 are redeemable beginning July 15, 2026 and quarterly thereafter on any interest payment date.
In December 2021, Nicolet assumed two subordinated note issuances at a premium as the result of an acquisition. One issuance was $30 million in fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due in 2028, with a fixed annual interest rate of 5.875% for the first five years, and will reset quarterly thereafter to the then current three-month SOFR, as adjusted for the LIBOR to SOFR spread adjustment, plus 2.88%. The Company intends to redeem these notes on the next interest payment date in fourth quarter 2023. The second issuance was $22 million in fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due in 2030, with a fixed annual interest rate of 7.00% for the first five years, and will reset quarterly thereafter to the then current SOFR plus 687.5 basis points. The Notes due in 2028 are redeemable beginning June 1, 2023, and quarterly thereafter on any interest payment date, while the Notes due in 2030 are redeemable beginning June 30, 2025, and quarterly thereafter on any interest payment date. All Notes qualify as Tier 2 capital for regulatory purposes, and are discounted in accordance with regulations when the debt has five years or less remaining to maturity.
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The following table shows the breakdown of junior subordinated debentures and subordinated notes.
As of September 30, 2023
As of December 31, 2022
(in thousands) Maturity
Date
Interest
 Rate
Par
Unamortized Premium /(Discount) / Debt Issue Costs (1)

Carrying
Value
Interest
 Rate

Carrying
Value
Junior Subordinated Debentures:
Mid-Wisconsin Statutory Trust I (2)
12/15/2035 7.10  % $ 10,310  $ (2,429) $ 7,881  6.20  % $ 7,734 
Baylake Capital Trust II (3)
9/30/2036 7.01  % 16,598  (2,997) 13,601  6.08  % 13,424 
First Menasha Statutory Trust (4)
3/17/2034 8.46  % 5,155  (454) 4,701  7.53  % 4,668 
County Bancorp Statutory Trust II (5)
9/15/2035 7.20  % 6,186  (792) 5,394  6.30  % 5,277 
County Bancorp Statutory Trust III (6)
6/15/2036 7.36  % 6,186  (850) 5,336  6.46  % 5,219 
Fox River Valley Capital Trust (7)
5/30/2033 6.40  % 3,610  (179) 3,431  6.40  % 3,398 
Total $ 48,045  $ (7,701) $ 40,344  $ 39,720 
Subordinated Notes:
Subordinated Notes due 2031 7/15/2031 3.13  % $ 100,000  $ (576) $ 99,424  3.13  % $ 99,267 
County Subordinated Notes due 2028 6/1/2028 8.56  % 30,000  —  30,000  5.88  % 30,119 
County Subordinated Notes due 2030 6/30/2030 7.00  % 22,400  586  22,986  7.00  % 23,236 
Total $ 152,400  $ 10  $ 152,410  $ 152,622 
(1) Represents the remaining unamortized premium or discount on debt issuances assumed in acquisitions, and represents the unamortized debt issue costs for the debt issued directly by Nicolet.
(2) The debentures, assumed in April 2013 as the result of an acquisition, have a floating rate of three-month SOFR plus 1.43%, adjusted quarterly. *
(3) The debentures, assumed in April 2016 as a result of an acquisition, have a floating rate of three-month SOFR plus 1.35%, adjusted quarterly. *
(4) The debentures, assumed in April 2017 as the result of an acquisition, have a floating rate of three-month SOFR plus 2.79%, adjusted quarterly. *
(5) The debentures, assumed in December 2021 as the result of an acquisition, have a floating rate of three-month SOFR plus 1.53%, adjusted quarterly. *
(6) The debentures, assumed in December 2021 as the result of an acquisition, have a floating rate of three-month SOFR plus 1.69%, adjusted quarterly. *
(7) The debentures, assumed in December 2021 as the result of an acquisition, have a floating rate of 5-year swap rate plus 3.40%, which resets every five years.
* The floating rate on this debenture was originally based on three-month LIBOR. Effective with the cessation of LIBOR, the floating rate on this debenture is now based on three-month CME Term SOFR, plus the spread adjustment of 0.26161%.

Note 9 – Commitments and Contingencies
The Company is party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit, financial guarantees, and standby letters of credit. Such commitments may involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk in excess of amounts recognized on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instruments for commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments and issuing letters of credit as they do for on-balance sheet financial instruments. See Note 6 for information on the allowance for credit losses-unfunded commitments.
A summary of the contract or notional amount of the Company’s exposure to off-balance sheet risk was as follows.
(in thousands) September 30, 2023 December 31, 2022
Commitments to extend credit $ 1,810,068  $ 1,850,601 
Financial standby letters of credit 18,235  26,530 
Performance standby letters of credit 15,814  9,375 
Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract, and predominantly included commercial lines of credit with a term of one year or less. The commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.
Financial and performance standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. Financial standby letters of credit are issued specifically to facilitate commerce and typically result in the commitment being drawn on when the underlying transaction is consummated between the customer and the third party, while performance standby letters of credit generally are contingent upon the failure of the customer to perform according to the terms of the underlying contract with the third party.
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Both of these guarantees are primarily issued to support public and private borrowing arrangements and, generally, have terms of one year or less. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan facilities to customers. The Company holds collateral, which may include accounts receivable, inventory, property, equipment, and income-producing properties, supporting those commitments if deemed necessary. In the event the customer does not perform in accordance with the terms of the agreement with the third-party, the Company would be required to fund the commitment. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make is represented by the contractual amount. If the commitment is funded, the Company would be entitled to seek recovery from the customer.
Interest rate lock commitments to originate residential mortgage loans held for sale and forward commitments to sell residential mortgage loans held for sale are considered derivative instruments (“mortgage derivatives”) and the contractual amounts were $16 million and $17 million, respectively, at September 30, 2023. In comparison, interest rate lock commitments to originate residential mortgage loans held for sale and forward commitments to sell residential mortgage loans held for sale totaled $9 million and $9 million, respectively, at December 31, 2022. The net fair value of these mortgage derivatives combined was a net gain of $0.2 million and $0.1 million at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.
Nicolet is party to various pending and threatened claims and legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business activities, some of which may involve claims for substantial amounts. Although Nicolet has developed policies and procedures to minimize legal noncompliance and the impact of claims and other proceedings and endeavored to procure reasonable amounts of insurance coverage, litigation and regulatory actions present an ongoing risk. With respect to all such claims, Nicolet continuously assesses its potential liability based on the allegations and evidence available. If the facts indicate that it is probable that Nicolet will incur a loss and the amount of such loss can be reasonably estimated, Nicolet will establish an accrual for the probable loss. For matters where a loss is not probable, or the amount of the loss cannot be reasonably estimated, Nicolet does not establish an accrual.
Future developments could result in an unfavorable outcome for or resolution of any one or more of the legal proceedings in which Nicolet is a defendant, which may be material to Nicolet’s business or consolidated results of operations or financial condition for a particular fiscal period or periods. Although it is not possible to predict the outcome of any of these legal proceedings or the range of possible loss, if any, based on the most recent information available, advice of counsel and available insurance coverage, if applicable, management believes that any liability resulting from such proceedings would not have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

Note 10 – Fair Value Measurements
Fair value represents the estimated price at which an orderly transaction to sell an asset or transfer a liability would take place between market participants at the measurement date under current market conditions (i.e., an exit price concept), and is a market-based measurement versus an entity-specific measurement. The Company records and/or discloses certain financial instruments on a fair value basis. These financial assets and financial liabilities are measured at fair value in three levels, based on the markets in which the assets and liabilities are traded and the observability of the assumptions used to determine fair value. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from independent sources. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect assumptions of the reporting entity about how market participants would price the asset or liability based on the best information available under the circumstances. The three fair value levels are:
•Level 1 – quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that a company has the ability to access at the measurement date
•Level 2 – inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly
•Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, which are typically based on an entity’s own assumptions, as there is little, if any, related market activity
In instances where the fair value measurement is based on inputs from different levels, the level within which the entire fair value measurement will be categorized is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. This assessment of the significance of an input requires management judgment.
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Recurring basis fair value measurements:
The following table presents the balances of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the periods presented.
(in thousands) Fair Value Measurements Using
Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis: Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
September 30, 2023
U.S. Treasury securities $ 37,504  $ —  $ 37,504  $ — 
U.S. government agency securities 8,221  —  8,221  — 
State, county and municipals 341,330  —  339,949  1,381 
Mortgage-backed securities 306,409  —  305,438  971 
Corporate debt securities 100,362  —  97,064  3,298 
Securities AFS
$ 793,826  $ —  $ 788,176  $ 5,650 
Other investments (equity securities) $ 3,893  $ 3,893  $ —  $ — 
Derivative assets $ 186  $ —  $ —  $ 186 
Derivative liabilities $ —  $ —  $ —  $ — 
December 31, 2022
U.S. Treasury securities $ 183,830  $ —  $ 183,830  $ — 
U.S. government agency securities 2,100  —  2,100  — 
State, county and municipals 398,188  —  396,315  1,873 
Mortgage-backed securities 200,932  —  199,951  981 
Corporate debt securities 132,568  —  127,269  5,299 
Securities AFS
$ 917,618  $ —  $ 909,465  $ 8,153 
Other investments (equity securities) $ 4,376  $ 4,376  $ —  $ — 
Derivative assets $ 60  $ —  $ —  $ 60 
Derivative liabilities $ 10  $ —  $ —  $ 10 
The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used by the Company for the assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, noted in the tables above.
Securities AFS: Where quoted market prices on securities exchanges are available, the investments are classified as Level 1. Level 1 investments primarily include exchange-traded equity securities. If quoted market prices are not available, fair value is generally determined using prices obtained from independent pricing vendors who use pricing models (with typical inputs including benchmark yields, reported trades for similar securities, issuer spreads or relationship to other benchmark quoted securities), or discounted cash flows, and are classified as Level 2. Examples of these investments include U.S. Treasury securities, U.S. government agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, obligations of state, county and municipals, and certain corporate debt securities. Finally, in certain cases where there is limited activity or less transparency around inputs to the estimated fair value, investments are classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy. Examples of these include private corporate debt securities, which are primarily trust preferred security investments, as well as certain municipal bonds and mortgage-backed securities. At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, it was determined that carrying value was the best approximation of fair value for these Level 3 securities, based primarily on the internal analysis on these securities.
Derivatives: The derivative assets and liabilities include interest rate lock commitments to originate residential mortgage loans held for sale and forward commitments to sell residential mortgage loans held for sale, which are considered derivative instruments (“mortgage derivatives”). The fair value of interest rate lock commitments are determined using the projected sale price of individual loans based on changes in the market interest rates, projected pull-through rates (the probability that an interest rate lock commitment will ultimately result in an originated loan), the reduction in the value of the applicant’s option due to the passage of time, and the remaining origination costs to be incurred based on management’s estimate of market costs. The fair value of forward commitments are determined using quoted prices of to-be-announced securities in active markets, or benchmarked to such securities. The derivative assets and liabilities are classified with Level 3 of the hierarchy.
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The following table presents the changes in Level 3 securities AFS measured at fair value on a recurring basis.
(in thousands) Nine Months Ended Year Ended
Level 3 Fair Value Measurements: September 30, 2023 December 31, 2022
Balance at beginning of year $ 8,153  $ 8,065 
Acquired balance —  750 
Maturities / Paydowns (2,469) (451)
Unrealized gain / (loss) (34) (211)
Balance at end of period $ 5,650  $ 8,153 
Nonrecurring basis fair value measurements:
The following table presents the Company’s assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis, aggregated by level in the fair value hierarchy within which those measurements fall.
(in thousands) Fair Value Measurements Using
Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis: Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
September 30, 2023
Collateral dependent loans $ 22,925  $ —  $ —  $ 22,925 
Other real estate owned (“OREO”) 2,031  —  —  2,031 
MSR asset 11,936  —  —  11,936 
December 31, 2022
Collateral dependent loans $ 30,951  $ —  $ —  $ 30,951 
OREO 1,975  —  —  1,975 
MSR asset 12,580  —  —  12,580 
The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used by the Company for the items noted in the table above. For collateral dependent loans, the estimated fair value is based upon the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral with consideration for estimated selling costs if satisfaction of the loan depends on the sale of the collateral, or the estimated liquidity of the note. For OREO, the fair value is based upon the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral adjusted for the expected costs to sell. To estimate the fair value of the MSR asset, the underlying serviced loan pools are stratified by interest rate tranche and term of the loan, and a valuation model is used to calculate the present value of the expected future cash flows for each stratum. The servicing valuation model incorporates assumptions that market participants would use in estimating future net servicing income, such as costs to service, a discount rate, ancillary income, default rates and losses, and prepayment speeds. Although some of these assumptions are based on observable market data, other assumptions are based on unobservable estimates of what market participants would use to measure fair value.
Financial instruments:
The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments are shown below.
September 30, 2023
(in thousands) Carrying
Amount
Estimated
Fair Value
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Financial assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 545,880  $ 545,880  $ 545,880  $ —  $ — 
Certificates of deposit in other banks 7,598  7,519  —  7,519  — 
Securities AFS 793,826  793,826  —  788,176  5,650 
Other investments, including equity securities 58,367  58,367  3,893  43,973  10,501 
Loans held for sale 6,500  6,641  —  6,641  — 
Loans, net 6,176,097  5,908,160  —  —  5,908,160 
MSR asset 11,936  15,847  —  —  15,847 
LSR asset 9,383  9,383  —  —  9,383 
Accrued interest receivable 24,166  24,166  24,166  —  — 
Financial liabilities:
Deposits $ 7,182,388  $ 7,164,174  $ —  $ —  $ 7,164,174 
Short-term borrowings —  —  —  —  — 
Long-term borrowings 197,754  190,738  —  4,736  186,002 
Accrued interest payable 7,028  7,028  7,028  —  — 
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December 31, 2022
(in thousands) Carrying
Amount
Estimated
Fair Value
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Financial assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 154,723  $ 154,723  $ 154,723  $ —  $ — 
Certificates of deposit in other banks 12,518  12,407  —  12,407  — 
Securities AFS 917,618  917,618  —  909,465  8,153 
Securities HTM 679,128  623,352  —  623,352  — 
Other investments, including equity securities 65,286  65,286  4,376  52,093  8,817 
Loans held for sale 1,482  1,529  —  1,529  — 
Loans, net 6,118,670  5,863,570  —  —  5,863,570 
MSR asset 12,580  17,215  —  —  17,215 
LSR asset 11,039  11,039  —  —  11,039 
Accrued interest receivable 21,275  21,275  21,275  —  — 
Financial liabilities:
Deposits $ 7,178,921  $ 7,172,779  $ —  $ —  $ 7,172,779 
Short-term borrowings 317,000  317,000  317,000  —  — 
Long-term borrowings 225,342  220,513  —  33,001  187,512 
Accrued interest payable 4,265  4,265  4,265  —  — 
The valuation methodologies for the financial instruments disclosed in the above table are described in Note 18, Fair Value Measurements, in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Note 11 – Subsequent Event
On October 2, 2023, Nicolet sold its member interest in UFS, LLC, for proceeds of $10 million and a pre-tax gain of approximately $9 million. This gain on sale will be realized during fourth quarter 2023.
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. (the “Company” or “Nicolet”) is a bank holding company headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Nicolet provides a diversified range of traditional banking and wealth management services to individuals and businesses in its market area and through the branch offices of its banking subsidiary, Nicolet National Bank (the “Bank”), in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota. In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, unless the context indicates otherwise, all references to “we,” “us” and “our” refer to the Company.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements made in this document and in any documents that are incorporated by reference which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including any statements regarding descriptions of management’s plans, objectives, or goals for future operations, products or services, and forecasts of its revenues, earnings, or other measures of performance. Forward-looking statements are based on current management expectations and, by their nature, are subject to risks and uncertainties. These statements are neither statements of historical fact nor assurance of future performance and generally may be identified by the use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “estimate,” “should,” “will,” “intend,” or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include discussions of strategy, financial projections, guidance and estimates (including their underlying assumptions), statements regarding plans, objectives, expectations or consequences of various transactions or events, and statements about our future performance, operations, products and services, and should be viewed with caution. Shareholders should note that many factors, some of which are discussed elsewhere in this document, could affect the future financial results of Nicolet and could cause those results to differ materially from those implied or anticipated by the statements. Except as required by law, we expressly disclaim any obligations to publicly update any forward-looking statements whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. Important factors, many of which are beyond Nicolet’s control, that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements, in addition to those described in detail under Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of Nicolet’s 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K include, but are not necessarily limited to the following:
•operating, legal and regulatory risks, including the effects of legislative or regulatory developments affecting the financial industry generally or Nicolet specifically;
•our ability to maintain liquidity, primarily through deposits, in light of recent events in the banking industry;
•economic, market, political and competitive forces affecting Nicolet’s banking and wealth management businesses;
•changes in interest rates, monetary policy and general economic conditions, which may impact Nicolet’s net interest income;
•potential difficulties in identifying and integrating the operations of future acquisition targets with those of Nicolet;
•the impact of purchase accounting with respect to our merger activities, or any change in the assumptions used regarding the assets purchased and liabilities assumed to determine their fair value;
•cybersecurity risks and the vulnerability of our network and online banking portals, and the systems or parties with whom we contract, to unauthorized access, computer viruses, phishing schemes, spam attacks, human error, natural disasters, power loss and other security breaches that could adversely affect our business and financial performance or reputation;
•changes in accounting standards, rules and interpretations and the related impact on Nicolet’s financial statements;
•compliance or operational risks related to new products, services, ventures, or lines of business, if any, that Nicolet may pursue or implement;
•changes in monetary and tax policies;
•our ability to attract and retain key personnel;
•examinations by our regulatory authorities, including the possibility that the regulatory authorities may, among other things, require us to increase our allowance for credit losses, write-down assets, or take other actions;
•risks associated with actual or potential information gatherings, investigations or legal proceedings by customers, regulatory agencies or others;
•the potential effects of events beyond our control that may have a destabilizing effect on financial markets and the economy, such as inflation and recessions, weather events, natural disasters, epidemics and pandemics, terrorist activities, wars or other foreign conflicts, disruptions in our customers’ supply chains, disruptions in transportation, essential utility outages or trade disputes and related tariffs;
•each of the factors and risks under Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of Nicolet’s 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K and in subsequent filings we make with the SEC; and
•the risk that Nicolet’s analysis of these risks and forces could be incorrect and/or that the strategies developed to address them could be unsuccessful.
These factors should be considered in evaluating the forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on such statements.

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Overview
The following discussion is management’s analysis of the consolidated financial condition as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 and results of operations for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2023 and 2022. It should be read in conjunction with Nicolet’s audited consolidated financial statements included in Nicolet’s 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Our financial performance and certain balance sheet line items were impacted by the timing and size of our acquisition of Charter Bankshares, Inc. (“Charter”) on August 26, 2022. Certain income statement results, average balances and related ratios include partial contributions from Charter from the acquisition date. Additional information on our acquisition activity is included in Note 2, “Acquisition” in the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements, under Part I, Item 1.

Economic Outlook and Recent Industry Developments
For year-to-date 2023, economic growth remains stronger than expected, driven by spending within the consumer sector. The labor market remains strong with competitive compensation and low unemployment. Consumer spending has been stronger than expected the past few quarters with continued demand for goods and services; however, consumer sentiment is beginning to wane from mounting pressures of higher interest rates, declining savings, rising cost of food and energy, and increasing credit card debt.

The Federal Reserve tightened monetary policy to combat inflation by aggressively raising interest rates from a target range of 0.00%-0.25% in early March 2022 to 5.25%-5.50% at the end of September 2023, and inflation has slowed from the start of the year, but remains higher than the Fed’s target of 2%. Inflation could remain in the 2.5% - 3.0% range, or just above the Fed target, for a period time due to the tight labor markets and de-globalization of supply chains. All these factors are indicating a slowing in economic activity is the most likely scenario for the U.S. economy leading into 2024.

These macroeconomic challenges are fueling additional concerns within the banking sector. During first quarter 2023, the banking industry experienced significant volatility with high-profile bank failures and industry wide concerns related to liquidity, deposit outflows, unrealized securities losses, and eroding consumer confidence in the banking system. The banking world remains challenging amidst tightening credit conditions, indications of declining asset quality, slowing economic demand, interest rate risk management, and potential for higher capital requirements, which further complicates the current economic outlook. In addition, the ongoing geopolitical issues have the potential for further economic disruptions.


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Table 1: Earnings Summary and Selected Financial Data
At or for the Three Months Ended At or for the Nine Months Ended
(In thousands, except per share data) 9/30/2023 6/30/2023 3/31/2023 12/31/2022 9/30/2022 9/30/2023 9/30/2022
Results of operations:
Net interest income $ 61,474  $ 59,039  $ 56,721  $ 68,092  $ 62,990  $ 177,234  $ 171,869 
Provision for credit losses 450  450  3,090  1,850  8,600  3,990  9,650 
Noninterest income 16,541  16,841  (21,844) 14,846  13,000  11,538  43,074 
Noninterest expense 45,738  44,957  44,875  43,989  42,567  135,570  116,655 
Income (loss) before income tax expense 31,827  30,473  (13,088) 37,099  24,823  49,212  88,638 
Income tax expense (benefit) 14,669  7,878  (4,190) 9,498  6,313  18,357  21,979 
Net income (loss) $ 17,158  $ 22,595  $ (8,898) $ 27,601  $ 18,510  $ 30,855  $ 66,659 
Earnings (loss) per common share ("EPS"):            
Basic $ 1.16  $ 1.54  $ (0.61) $ 1.88  $ 1.33  $ 2.10  $ 4.88 
Diluted $ 1.14  $ 1.51  $ (0.61) $ 1.83  $ 1.29  $ 2.05  $ 4.72 
Common Shares:
Basic weighted average 14,740  14,711  14,694  14,685  13,890  14,716  13,648 
Diluted weighted average 15,100  14,960  14,694  15,110  14,310  15,044  14,127 
Outstanding (period end) 14,758  14,718  14,698  14,691  14,673  14,758  14,673 
Period-End Balances:              
Loans $ 6,239,257  $ 6,222,776  $ 6,223,732  $ 6,180,499  $ 5,984,437  $ 6,239,257  $ 5,984,437 
Allowance for credit losses - loans 63,160  62,811  62,412  61,829  60,348  63,160  60,348 
Total assets 8,416,162  8,482,628  8,192,354  8,763,969  8,895,916  8,416,162  8,895,916 
Deposits 7,182,388  7,198,604  6,928,579  7,178,921  7,395,902  7,182,388  7,395,902 
Stockholders’ equity (common) 974,461  977,638  961,792  972,529  938,463  974,461  938,463 
Book value per common share 66.03  66.42  65.44  66.20  63.96  66.03  63.96 
Tangible book value per common share (2)
39.18  39.37  38.20  38.81  36.21  39.18  36.21 
Financial Ratios: (1)
             
Return on average assets 0.81  % 1.10  % (0.42) % 1.26  % 0.93  % 0.49  % 1.18  %
Return on average common equity 6.92  9.37  (3.72) 11.47  8.25  4.24  10.32 
Return on average tangible common equity (2)
11.62  15.95  (6.34) 19.85  13.93  7.18  17.25 
Stockholders' equity to assets 11.58  11.53  11.74  11.10  10.55  11.58  10.55 
Tangible common equity to tangible assets (2)
7.21  7.17  7.21  6.82  6.26  7.21  6.26 
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures:
Adjusted net income (loss) reconciliation (3)
Net income (loss) (GAAP) $ 17,158  $ 22,595  $ (8,898) $ 27,601  $ 18,510  $ 30,855  $ 66,659 
Adjustments:
Provision expense (4)
—  —  2,340  —  8,000  2,340  8,000 
Assets (gains) losses, net (31) 318  38,468  (260) 46  38,755  (2,870)
Merger-related expense —  26  163  492  519  189  1,172 
Adjustments subtotal (31) 344  40,971  232  8,565  41,284  6,302 
Tax on Adjustments (5)
(6) 86  10,243  58  2,141  8,050  1,576 
Tax - Wisconsin tax law change (5)
6,151  —  —  —  —  9,118  — 
Adjusted net income (Non-GAAP) $ 23,284  $ 22,853  $ 21,830  $ 27,775  $ 24,934  $ 73,207  $ 71,386 
Adjusted diluted EPS (Non-GAAP) $ 1.54  $ 1.53  $ 1.45  $ 1.84  $ 1.74  $ 4.87  $ 5.05 
Tangible Assets:
Total assets $ 8,416,162  $ 8,482,628  $ 8,192,354  $ 8,763,969  $ 8,895,916 
Goodwill and other intangibles, net 396,208  398,194  400,277  402,438  407,117 
Tangible assets $ 8,019,954  $ 8,084,434  $ 7,792,077  $ 8,361,531  $ 8,488,799 
Tangible Common Equity:
Stockholders’ equity (common) $ 974,461  $ 977,638  $ 961,792  $ 972,529  $ 938,463 
Goodwill and other intangibles, net 396,208  398,194  400,277  402,438  407,117 
Tangible common equity $ 578,253  $ 579,444  $ 561,515  $ 570,091  $ 531,346 
Average Tangible Common Equity:              
Stockholders’ equity (common) $ 983,133  $ 967,142  $ 970,108  $ 954,970  $ 890,205  $ 973,509  $ 863,272 
Goodwill and other intangibles, net 397,052  399,080  401,212  403,243  363,211  399,100  346,488 
Average tangible common equity $ 586,081  $ 568,062  $ 568,896  $ 551,727  $ 526,994  $ 574,409  $ 516,784 
Note: Numbers may not sum due to rounding.
(1) Income statement-related ratios for partial-year periods are annualized.
(2) The ratios of tangible book value per common share, return on average tangible common equity, and tangible common equity to tangible assets are non-GAAP financial measures that exclude goodwill and other intangibles, net. These financial ratios have been included as management considers them to be useful metrics with which to analyze and evaluate financial condition and capital strength. See section “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.
(3) The adjusted net income measure is a non-GAAP financial measure that provides information that management believes is useful to investors in understanding our operating performance and trends and also aids investors in the comparison of our financial performance to the financial performance of peer banks. See section “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.
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(4) Provision expense for 2023 is attributable to the expected loss on our investment in Signature Bank sub debt, and the provision expense for 2022 is attributable to the Day 2 allowance from the acquisition of Charter.
(5) The effective tax rate for periods prior to July 1, 2023, effective date of the Wisconsin tax law change (as detailed below in Performance Summary), assumed an effective tax rate of 25%, and periods subsequent to the effective date assumed an effective tax rate of 19.5%.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We identify “tangible book value per common share,” “return on average tangible common equity,” “tangible common equity to tangible assets” “adjusted net income,” and “adjusted diluted earnings per common share” as “non-GAAP financial measures.” In accordance with the SEC’s rules, we identify certain financial measures as non-GAAP financial measures if such financial measures exclude or include amounts in the most directly comparable measures calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in effect in the United States in our statements of income, balance sheets or statements of cash flows. Non-GAAP financial measures do not include operating and other statistical measures, ratios or statistical measures calculated using exclusively financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.
Management believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures (a) are important metrics used to analyze and evaluate our financial condition and capital strength and provide important supplemental information that contributes to a proper understanding of our operating performance and trends, (b) enables a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our business, and (c) allows investors to compare our financial performance to the financial performance of our peers and to evaluate our performance in a manner similar to management, the financial services industry, bank stock analysts, and bank regulators. Management uses non-GAAP measures as follows: in the preparation of our operating budgets, monthly financial performance reporting, and in our presentation to investors of our performance. However, we acknowledge that these non-GAAP financial measures have a number of limitations. Limitations associated with non-GAAP financial measures include the risk that persons might disagree as to the appropriateness of items comprising these measures and that different companies might calculate these measures differently. These disclosures should not be considered an alternative to our GAAP results. A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is presented in the table above.
Performance Summary
Net income was $31 million (or earnings per diluted common share of $2.05) for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, compared to net income of $67 million (or earnings per diluted common share of $4.72) for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, with 2023 significantly impacted by the first quarter balance sheet repositioning (detailed below).
In July 2023, Wisconsin’s Governor signed the Wisconsin state budget, retroactive to January 1, 2023, which included language that provides financial institutions with an exemption from state taxable income for interest, fees, and penalties earned on loans to existing Wisconsin-based business or agriculture purpose loans that are $5 million or less in balance on January 1, 2023, and to new loans that meet the criteria. The impact to Nicolet moving forward will be a reduction / elimination of State income taxes being expensed, resulting in an estimated effective tax rate of 19.5% (compared to a 25% effective tax rate previously). However, the elimination of Wisconsin state income tax expense will also cause a valuation allowance to be established for the state-related deferred tax assets as of the effective date of the legislation, requiring a one-time $9.1 million charge to state income tax expense in the third quarter.

Net income reflected non-core items and the related tax effect of each, including the first quarter U.S. Treasury securities sale loss (balance sheet repositioning), change in Wisconsin tax law, expected loss (provision expense) on the Signature Bank sub debt investment (acquired in an acquisition), merger-related expenses, Day 2 credit provision expense required under the CECL model, as well as gains / (losses) on other assets and investments. These non-core items negatively impacted earnings per diluted common share $2.82 for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and negatively impacted earnings per diluted common share $0.33 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022.

On March 7, 2023, Nicolet executed the sale of $500 million (par value) U.S. Treasury held to maturity securities for a pre-tax loss of $38 million or an after-tax loss of $28 million to reposition the balance sheet for future growth. The $500 million portfolio yielded approximately 88 bps with scheduled maturities in 2024 and 2025 (or average duration of 2 years). Proceeds from the sale were used to reduce existing FHLB borrowings with the remainder held in investable cash. The following table summarizes the estimated annual impact of this balance sheet repositioning.
Sale Metrics $ in Thousands Assumptions
Loss on sale of U.S.Treasury securities $ (37,723) Sale of $500 million U.S. Treasury securities yielding 88 bps
Lost interest from U.S. Treasury securities $ (4,380) Assumes $500 million at 88 bps
Lower interest expense on FHLB borrowings 17,128  Assumes $377 million at 456 bps (at time of sale)
Interest income from investable cash 3,905  Assumes $83 million at 465 bps (at time of sale)
Projected net impact from repositioning $ 16,653 
Estimated earn back (in years) 2.26
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As a result of the sale of securities previously classified as held to maturity, the remaining unsold portfolio of held to maturity securities, with a book value of $177 million, was reclassified to available for sale with a carrying value of approximately $157 million. The unrealized loss on this portfolio of $20 million (at the time of reclassification) increased the balance of accumulated other comprehensive loss $15 million, net of the deferred tax effect, and is subject to future market changes.

•Net interest income was $177 million for the first nine months of 2023, up $5 million (3%) over the first nine months of 2022. Interest income grew $91 million attributable to favorable loan volumes (partly from the Charter acquisition), as well as favorable rates from new and renewed loans in a rising interest rate environment and higher rates on investment securities and investable cash. Interest expense increased $86 million between the comparable nine-month periods mostly from higher average funding costs. Net interest margin was 3.07% for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, compared to 3.36% for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. For additional information regarding net interest income, see “Income Statement Analysis — Net Interest Income.”
•Noninterest income was $12 million for the first nine months of 2023, a $32 million unfavorable change from the comparable 2022 period, primarily due to the balance sheet repositioning (noted above). Excluding net asset gains (losses), noninterest income for the first nine months of 2023 was $50 million, a $10 million increase over the first nine months of 2022. For additional information regarding noninterest income, see “Income Statement Analysis — Noninterest Income.”
•Noninterest expense was $136 million, $19 million (16%) higher than the first nine months of 2022. Personnel costs increased $7 million, and non-personnel expenses combined increased $12 million (23%) over the comparable 2022 period. For additional information regarding noninterest expense, see “Income Statement Analysis — Noninterest Expense.”
•Nonperforming assets were $32 million, representing 0.37% of total assets at September 30, 2023, compared to $40 million or 0.46% of total assets at December 31, 2022. The reduction in nonperforming assets was due to the sale of select nonaccrual loans. For additional information regarding nonperforming assets, see “Balance Sheet Analysis – Nonperforming Assets.”
•At September 30, 2023, assets were $8.4 billion, down $348 million (4%) from December 31, 2022, mostly due to the sale of investment securities as part of our balance sheet repositioning, partly offset by higher investable cash balances. For additional balance sheet discussion see “Balance Sheet Analysis.”
•At September 30, 2023, loans were $6.2 billion, up $59 million from December 31, 2022, with growth in residential mortgage loans partly offset by slowing commercial loan demand. On average, loans grew $1.2 billion (25%) over the first nine months of 2022. For additional information regarding loans, see “Balance Sheet Analysis — Loans.”
•Total deposits of $7.2 billion at September 30, 2023, were minimally changed from December 31, 2022, with growth in time deposits and money market accounts partly offset by lower demand and savings account balances. Year-to-date average deposits were $644 million (10%) higher than the first nine months of 2022. For additional information regarding deposits, see “Balance Sheet Analysis – Deposits.”

INCOME STATEMENT ANALYSIS
Net Interest Income
Tax-equivalent net interest income is a non-GAAP measure, but is a preferred industry measurement of net interest income (and its use in calculating a net interest margin) as it enhances the comparability of net interest income arising from taxable and tax-exempt sources. The tax-equivalent adjustments bring tax-exempt interest to a level that would yield the same after-tax income by applying the effective Federal corporate tax rates to the underlying assets. Tables 2 and 3 present information to facilitate the review and discussion of selected average balance sheet items, tax-equivalent net interest income, interest rate spread and net interest margin.

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Table 2: Average Balance Sheet and Net Interest Income Analysis - Tax-Equivalent Basis
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
2023 2022
(in thousands) Average
Balance
Interest Average
Yield/Rate
Average
Balance
Interest Average
Yield/Rate
ASSETS
Interest-earning assets
Total loans, including loan fees (1)(2)
$ 6,223,396  $ 251,019  5.33  % $ 4,975,432  $ 167,413  4.45  %
Investment securities:
Taxable
924,829  13,445  1.94  % 1,389,540  15,612  1.50  %
Tax-exempt (2)
252,933  6,130  3.23  % 202,011  3,661  2.42  %
Total investment securities 1,177,762  19,575  2.22  % 1,591,551  19,273  1.62  %
Other interest-earning assets 266,753  10,345  5.13  % 251,983  2,734  1.44  %
Total non-loan earning assets
1,444,515  29,920  2.75  % 1,843,534  22,007  1.59  %
Total interest-earning assets
7,667,911  $ 280,939  4.85  % 6,818,966  $ 189,420  3.67  %
Other assets, net 737,088  731,928 
Total assets
$ 8,404,999  $ 7,550,894 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Interest-bearing liabilities
Savings $ 845,079  $ 7,387  1.17  % $ 854,307  $ 827  0.13  %
Interest-bearing demand 900,802  9,677  1.44  % 1,010,372  2,647  0.35  %
Money market accounts (“MMA”) 1,848,921  36,223  2.62  % 1,502,038  2,132  0.19  %
Core time deposits 771,041  16,656  2.89  % 556,970  1,240  0.30  %
Total interest-bearing core deposits
4,365,843  69,943  2.14  % 3,923,687  6,846  0.23  %
Brokered deposits 619,870  19,298  4.16  % 450,311  2,394  0.71  %
Total interest-bearing deposits
4,985,713  89,241  2.39  % 4,373,998  9,240  0.28  %
Wholesale funding 343,827  12,842  4.93  % 239,362  7,053  3.91  %
Total interest-bearing liabilities
5,329,540  102,083  2.56  % 4,613,360  16,293  0.47  %
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits 2,067,265  2,034,865 
Other liabilities 34,685  39,397 
Stockholders’ equity 973,509  863,272 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 8,404,999  $ 7,550,894 
Interest rate spread 2.29  % 3.20  %
Net free funds 0.78  % 0.16  %
Tax-equivalent net interest income and net interest margin $ 178,856  3.07  % $ 173,127  3.36  %
Tax-equivalent adjustment $ 1,622  $ 1,258 
Net interest income $ 177,234  $ 171,869 
(1)Nonaccrual loans and loans held for sale are included in the daily average loan balances outstanding.
(2)The yield on tax-exempt loans and tax-exempt investment securities is computed on a tax-equivalent basis using a federal tax rate of 21% and adjusted for the disallowance of interest expense.

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Table 2: Average Balance Sheet and Net Interest Income Analysis - Tax-Equivalent Basis (Continued)
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
2023 2022
(in thousands) Average
Balance
Interest Average
Yield/Rate
Average
Balance
Interest Average
Yield/Rate
ASSETS
Interest-earning assets
Total loans, including loan fees (1)(2)
$ 6,230,336  $ 87,701  5.54  % $ 5,391,258  $ 63,095  4.60  %
Investment securities:
Taxable
733,286  4,351  2.37  % 1,391,330  5,350  1.54  %
Tax-exempt (2)
229,321  1,884  3.29  % 234,123  1,639  2.80  %
Total investment securities 962,607  6,235  2.59  % 1,625,453  6,989  1.72  %
Other interest-earning assets 483,952  6,452  5.23  % 144,409  1,127  3.09  %
Total non-loan earning assets
1,446,559  12,687  3.47  % 1,769,862  8,116  1.83  %
Total interest-earning assets
7,676,895  $ 100,388  5.15  % 7,161,120  $ 71,211  3.91  %
Other assets, net 740,561  695,011 
Total assets
$ 8,417,456  $ 7,856,131 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Interest-bearing liabilities
Savings $ 804,730  $ 2,520  1.24  % $ 899,503  $ 488  0.22  %
Interest-bearing demand 843,893  3,228  1.52  % 990,891  1,148  0.46  %
MMA 1,873,545  13,032  2.76  % 1,540,610  1,309  0.34  %
Core time deposits 969,690  8,848  3.62  % 543,444  408  0.30  %
Total interest-bearing core deposits
4,491,858  27,628  2.44  % 3,974,448  3,353  0.33  %
Brokered deposits 651,745  7,336  4.47  % 468,010  1,285  1.09  %
Total interest-bearing deposits
5,143,603  34,964  2.70  % 4,442,458  4,638  0.41  %
Wholesale funding 241,689  3,446  5.58  % 287,751  3,090  4.25  %
Total interest-bearing liabilities
5,385,292  38,410  2.83  % 4,730,209  7,728  0.65  %
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits 2,012,974  2,200,789 
Other liabilities 36,057  34,928 
Stockholders’ equity 983,133  890,205 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 8,417,456  $ 7,856,131 
Interest rate spread 2.32  % 3.26  %
Net free funds 0.84  % 0.22  %
Tax-equivalent net interest income and net interest margin $ 61,978  3.16  % $ 63,483  3.48  %
Tax-equivalent adjustment $ 504  $ 493 
Net interest income $ 61,474  $ 62,990 
(1)Nonaccrual loans and loans held for sale are included in the daily average loan balances outstanding.
(2)The yield on tax-exempt loans and tax-exempt investment securities is computed on a tax-equivalent basis using a federal tax rate of 21% and adjusted for the disallowance of interest expense.

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Table 3: Volume/Rate Variance - Tax-Equivalent Basis
For the Three Months Ended
September 30, 2023
Compared to September 30, 2022:
For the Nine Months Ended
 September 30, 2023
Compared to September 30, 2022:
Increase (Decrease) Due to Changes in Increase (Decrease) Due to Changes in
(in thousands) Volume Rate
Net (1)
Volume Rate
Net (1)
Interest-earning assets
Total loans (2)
$ 10,704  $ 13,902  $ 24,606  $ 46,562  $ 37,044  $ 83,606 
Investment securities:
Taxable
(1,442) 443  (999) (3,073) 906  (2,167)
Tax-exempt (2)
(34) 279  245  1,056  1,413  2,469 
Total investment securities (1,476) 722  (754) (2,017) 2,319  302 
Other interest-earning assets 4,100  1,225  5,325  160  7,451  7,611 
 Total non-loan earning assets
2,624  1,947  4,571  (1,857) 9,770  7,913 
Total interest-earning assets
$ 13,328  $ 15,849  $ 29,177  $ 44,705  $ 46,814  $ 91,519 
Interest-bearing liabilities
Savings $ (57) $ 2,089  $ 2,032  $ (9) $ 6,569  $ 6,560 
Interest-bearing demand (194) 2,274  2,080  (318) 7,348  7,030 
MMA 342  11,381  11,723  602  33,489  34,091 
Core time deposits 554  7,886  8,440  651  14,765  15,416 
Total interest-bearing core deposits
645  23,630  24,275  926  62,171  63,097 
Brokered deposits 680  5,371  6,051  1,213  15,691  16,904 
Total interest-bearing deposits
1,325  29,001  30,326  2,139  77,862  80,001 
Wholesale funding (360) 716  356  3,472  2,317  5,789 
Total interest-bearing liabilities
965  29,717  30,682  5,611  80,179  85,790 
Net interest income $ 12,363  $ (13,868) $ (1,505) $ 39,094  $ (33,365) $ 5,729 
(1)The change in interest due to both rate and volume has been allocated in proportion to the relationship of dollar amount of change in each.
(2)The yield on tax-exempt loans and tax-exempt investment securities is computed on a tax-equivalent basis using a federal tax rate of 21% and adjusted for the disallowance of interest expense.


The Federal Reserve raised short-term interest rates a total of 425 bps during 2022, increasing the Federal Funds rate to a range of 4.25% to 4.50% as of December 31, 2022. Additional increases totaling 100 bps were made in the first nine months of 2023, resulting in a Federal Funds range of 5.25% to 5.50% as of September 30, 2023.
Tax-equivalent net interest income was $179 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, an increase of $6 million (3%) over the nine months ended September 30, 2022. The $6 million increase in tax-equivalent net interest income was attributable to net favorable volumes (which added $39 million to net interest income, mostly from the Charter acquisition and loan growth) and net unfavorable rates (which decreased net interest income $33 million from higher deposit costs and the lag in repricing the loan portfolio to current market interest rates).
Average interest-earning assets increased to $7.7 billion, up $849 million (12%) over the comparable 2022 period, primarily due to the timing of the acquisition of Charter. Between the comparable nine-month periods, average loans increased $1.2 billion (25%), mostly due to timing of the Charter acquisition (which added loans of $827 million at acquisition) and strong organic loan growth throughout 2022. Average investment securities decreased $414 million between the comparable nine-month periods, while other interest-earning assets increased $15 million, mostly due to investable cash. As a result, the mix of average interest-earning assets shifted to 81% loans, 15% investments and 4% other interest-earning assets (mostly cash) for the first nine months of 2023, compared to 73%, 23% and 4%, respectively, for the first nine months of 2022.
Average interest-bearing liabilities were $5.3 billion for the first nine months of 2023, an increase of $716 million (16%) over the first nine months of 2022, primarily due to the timing of the acquisition of Charter. Average interest-bearing core deposits increased $442 million and average brokered deposits increased $170 million between the comparable nine-month periods, reflecting the impact of the Charter acquisition and brokered funding to support the strong loan growth in 2022. Other interest-bearing liabilities increased $104 million between the comparable nine-month periods, partly due to wholesale funding acquired with Charter and partly due to FHLB borrowings to support the strong loan growth in 2022. The mix of average interest-bearing liabilities was 82% core deposits, 12% brokered deposits and 6% wholesale funding for the first nine months of 2023, compared to 85%, 10%, and 5%, respectively, for the first nine months of 2022.
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The interest rate spread decreased 91 bps between the comparable nine-month periods, as our liabilities have repriced faster than our assets in the rapidly rising interest rate environment. The interest-earning asset yield increased 118 bps to 4.85% for the first nine months of 2023, due to the changing mix of interest-earning assets (noted above), as well as the higher interest rate environment. The loan yield improved 88 bps to 5.33% between the comparable nine-month periods, largely due to the repricing of new and renewed loans in a rising interest rate environment, while the yield on investment securities increased 60 bps to 2.22%. The cost of funds increased 209 bps to 2.56% for the first nine months of 2023, also reflecting the rising interest rate environment and a migration of customer deposits into higher rate deposit products. The contribution from net free funds increased 62 bps, mostly due to the higher value in the rising interest rate environment. As a result, the tax-equivalent net interest margin was 3.07% for the first nine months of 2023, down 29 bps compared to 3.36% for the first nine months of 2022.
Tax-equivalent interest income was $281 million for the first nine months of 2023, up $92 million from comparable period of 2022, comprised of $45 million higher volumes and $47 million higher average rates (mostly in the loan portfolio). Interest income on loans increased $84 million over the first nine months of 2022, due to higher average balances from the Charter acquisition and strong organic loan growth in 2022, as well as higher rates from the rising interest rate environment. Interest expense increased to $102 million for the first nine months of 2023, up $86 million compared to the first nine months of 2022, mostly due to a much higher cost of funds. Interest expense on deposits increased $80 million between the comparable nine-month periods mostly due to the rapidly rising interest rate environment.
Provision for Credit Losses
The provision for credit losses was $4.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 (comprised of $1.7 million related to the ACL-Loans and $2.3 million for the ACL on securities AFS), compared to $9.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 (comprised of $9.1 million related to the ACL-Loans and the remainder for the ACL on unfunded commitments). The 2023 provision for credit losses on loans was attributable to growth and changes in the underlying loan portfolio, while the provision for credit losses on securities AFS was due to the expected loss on our Signature Bank subordinated debt investment which was fully charged-off during first quarter 2023. The 2022 provision for credit losses was mostly due to the Day 2 increase from the Charter acquisition.
The provision for credit losses is predominantly a function of Nicolet’s methodology and judgment as to qualitative and quantitative factors used to determine the appropriateness of the ACL. The appropriateness of the ACL-Loans is affected by changes in the size and character of the loan portfolio, changes in levels of collateral dependent and other nonperforming loans, historical losses and delinquencies in each portfolio segment, the risk inherent in specific loans, concentrations of loans to specific borrowers or industries, existing and future economic conditions, the fair value of underlying collateral, and other factors which could affect expected credit losses. The ACL for securities is affected by risk of the underlying issuer, while the ACL for unfunded commitments is affected by many of the same factors as the ACL-Loans, as well as funding assumptions relative to lines of credit. See also Note 6, “Loans, Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans, and Credit Quality” of the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1, for additional disclosures. For additional information regarding asset quality and the ACL-Loans, see “BALANCE SHEET ANALYSIS — Loans,” “— Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans,” and “— Nonperforming Assets.”

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Noninterest Income
Table 4: Noninterest Income
Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands) 2023 2022 $ Change % Change 2023 2022 $ Change % Change
Trust services fee income $ 2,107  $ 1,969  $ 138  % $ 6,288  $ 5,984  $ 304  %
Brokerage fee income 3,950  3,040  910  30  11,151  9,716  1,435  15 
Wealth management fee income 6,057  5,009  1,048  21  17,439  15,700  1,739  11 
Mortgage income, net 2,020  1,728  292  17  5,308  7,186  (1,878) (26)
Service charges on deposit accounts 1,492  1,589  (97) (6) 4,501  4,602  (101) (2)
Card interchange income 3,321  3,012  309  10  9,685  8,543  1,142  13 
BOLI income 1,090  966  124  13  3,363  2,667  696  26 
Deferred compensation plan asset market valuations (457) (571) 114  N/M 988  (2,354) 3,342  N/M
LSR income, net 1,108  (517) 1,625  N/M 3,398  (1,042) 4,440  N/M
Other income 1,879  1,830  49  5,611  4,902  709  14 
Noninterest income without
 net gains (losses)
16,510  13,046  3,464  27  50,293  40,204  10,089  25 
Asset gains (losses), net 31  (46) 77  N/M (38,755) 2,870  (41,625) N/M
Total noninterest income
$ 16,541  $ 13,000  $ 3,541  27  % $ 11,538  $ 43,074  $ (31,536) (73) %
N/M means not meaningful.
Noninterest income was $11.5 million for the first nine months of 2023, an unfavorable change of $31.5 million compared to the first nine months of 2022, primarily due to the balance sheet repositioning. Excluding net asset gains (losses), noninterest income for the first nine months of 2023 was $50.3 million, a $10.1 million (25%) increase over the comparable period in 2022.
Wealth management fee income was $17.4 million, up $1.7 million (11%) from the first nine months of 2022, on growth in accounts and assets under management (up 24% from year-end 2022), though tempered by unfavorable market-related changes.
Mortgage income includes net gains received from the sale of residential real estate loans into the secondary market, capitalized mortgage servicing rights (“MSR”), servicing fees net of MSR amortization, fair value marks on the mortgage interest rate lock commitments and forward commitments (“mortgage derivatives”), and MSR valuation changes, if any. Net mortgage income of $5.3 million, decreased $1.9 million (26%) between the comparable nine-month periods, mostly due to the rising interest rate environment reducing secondary market volumes and the related gains on sales. See also Note 7, “Goodwill and Other Intangibles and Servicing Rights” of the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1, for additional disclosures on the MSR asset.
Card interchange income grew $1.1 million (13%) between the comparable nine-month periods due to higher volume and activity.
BOLI income was up $0.7 million between the comparable nine-month periods, attributable to higher average balances from BOLI acquired with the Charter acquisition.
Loan servicing rights (“LSR”) income increased $4.4 million between the comparable nine-month periods mostly due to lower LSR amortization from the much slower prepayment speeds in the higher interest rate environment. See also Note 7, “Goodwill and Other Intangibles and Servicing Rights” of the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1, for additional information on the LSR asset.
Other income of $5.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was up $0.7 million from the comparable 2022 period, largely due to broker fees and card incentive income.
Net asset losses of $38.8 million for the first nine months of 2023 were primarily attributable to losses on the sale of approximately $500 million (par value) U.S. Treasury held to maturity securities executed in early March as part of a balance sheet repositioning, while net asset gains of $2.9 million for the first nine months of 2022 were primarily attributable to gains on sales of other real estate owned (mostly closed bank branch locations).

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Noninterest Expense
Table 5: Noninterest Expense
Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
($ in thousands) 2023 2022 Change % Change 2023 2022 Change % Change
Personnel $ 23,944  $ 24,136  $ (192) (1) % $ 72,172  $ 65,008  $ 7,164  11  %
Occupancy, equipment and office 9,027  7,641  1,386  18  26,655  21,476  5,179  24 
Business development and marketing 1,869  2,281  (412) (18) 5,936  6,169  (233) (4)
Data processing 4,643  3,664  979  27  12,849  10,647  2,202  21 
Intangibles amortization 1,986  1,628  358  22  6,230  4,399  1,831  42 
FDIC assessments 1,500  480  1,020  213  3,049  1,440  1,609  112 
Merger-related expense —  519  (519) (100) 189  1,172  (983) (84)
Other expense 2,769  2,218  551  25  8,490  6,344  2,146  34 
Total noninterest expense
$ 45,738  $ 42,567  $ 3,171  % $ 135,570  $ 116,655  $ 18,915  16  %
Non-personnel expenses $ 21,794  $ 18,431  $ 3,363  18  % $ 63,398  $ 51,647  $ 11,751  23  %
Average full-time equivalent (“FTE”) employees 977  907  70  % 955  863  92  11  %

Noninterest expense was $135.6 million, an increase of $18.9 million (16%) over the first nine months of 2022. Personnel costs increased $7.2 million (11%), while non-personnel expenses combined increased $11.8 million (23%) compared to the first nine months of 2022.
Personnel expense was $72.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, an increase of $7.2 million from the comparable period in 2022. Salary expense increased $6.0 million (11%) over the first nine months of 2022, reflecting higher salaries from the larger employee base (with average full-time equivalent employees up 11%, mostly due to the Charter acquisition), investments in our wealth team, and merit increases between the years, partly offset by lower incentive compensation commensurate with the lower current period earnings. Fringe benefits increased $1.2 million (12%) over the first nine months of 2022, reflecting higher overall health care expenses as well as the larger employee base. Salary expense was also impacted by the change in the fair value of nonqualified deferred compensation plan liabilities from the recent market improvements. See also “Noninterest Income” for the offsetting fair value change to the nonqualified deferred compensation plan assets.
Occupancy, equipment and office expense was $26.7 million for the first nine months of 2023, up $5.2 million (24%) compared to the first nine months of 2022, largely due to the expanded branch network with the Charter acquisition, as well as additional expense for software and technology solutions.
Business development and marketing expense was $5.9 million, down $0.2 million (4%) between the comparable nine-month periods, largely attributable to the timing and extent of marketing donations, promotions, and media.
Data processing expense was $12.8 million, up $2.2 million (21%) between the comparable nine-month periods, mostly due to volume-based increases in core and card processing charges, partly from the Charter acquisition.
Intangibles amortization increased $1.8 million between the comparable nine-month periods due to higher amortization from the intangibles added with the Charter acquisition.
Other expense was $8.5 million, up $2.1 million (34%) between the comparable nine-month periods, mostly due to higher professional fees.

Income Taxes
Income tax expense was $18.4 million (effective tax rate of 37.3%) for the first nine months of 2023, compared to expense of $22.0 million (effective tax rate of 24.8%) for the comparable period of 2022. The change in income tax expense was due to lower pretax earnings, and also included a $9.1 million charge to income tax expense to establish a tax valuation allowance related to the Wisconsin tax law change noted above in the “Performance Summary” section.
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Income Statement Analysis – Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 versus Three Months Ended September 30, 2022
Net income was $17.2 million, or adjusted net income (non-GAAP) of $23.3 million, for the three months ended September 30, 2023, compared to net income of $18.5 million, or adjusted net income (non-GAAP) of $24.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022. Earnings per diluted common share was $1.14 for third quarter 2023, compared to $1.29 for third quarter 2022.
Tax-equivalent net interest income was $62.0 million for third quarter 2023, a decrease of $1.5 million from third quarter 2022. Interest income increased $29.2 million over third quarter 2022, while interest expense increased $30.7 million from third quarter 2022. The increase in interest income included $15.8 million from higher yields (reflecting the rising interest rate environment) and $13.3 million from stronger volumes (led by average loans which grew $839 million or 16% over third quarter 2022, mostly due to timing of the Charter acquisition). Average investment securities decreased $663 million, while other interest-earning assets grew $340 million (primarily investable cash) between the comparable third quarter periods, mostly due to the balance sheet repositioning actions in first quarter 2023 as well as investment securities maturities and paydowns. Interest expense increased $30.7 million from third quarter 2022, mostly due to $29.7 million higher overall funding costs. For additional information regarding average balances, net interest income and net interest margin, see “INCOME STATEMENT ANALYSIS — Net Interest Income.”
The net interest margin for third quarter 2023 was 3.16%, compared to 3.48% for third quarter 2022, impacted by the rising interest rate environment and the changing balance sheet mix. The mix of average interest-earning assets shifted from 75% loans, 23% investments and 2% other interest-earning assets (mostly investable cash) for third quarter 2022, to 81%, 13% and 6%, respectively, for third quarter 2023. The mix of average interest-bearing liabilities shifted from 84% core deposits, 10% brokered deposits, and 6% wholesale funding for third quarter 2022, to 83%, 12%, and 5%, respectively, for third quarter 2023, including a notable shift to higher rate deposit products. The yield on interest-earning assets of 5.15% increased 124 bps from third quarter 2022, while the cost of funds of 2.83% increased 218 bps between the comparable quarters.
Provision for credit losses was $0.5 million for third quarter 2023 (all related to the ACL-Loans), compared to $8.6 million provision for credit losses for third quarter 2022 (comprised of $8.2 million related to the ACL-Loans, and $0.4 million for the ACL on unfunded commitments). The third quarter 2022 provision for credit losses was mostly due to the Day 2 ACL increase from the Charter acquisition. For additional information regarding the allowance for credit losses-loans and asset quality, see “BALANCE SHEET ANALYSIS — Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans” and “BALANCE SHEET ANALYSIS — Nonperforming Assets.”
Noninterest income was $16.5 million for third quarter 2023, an increase of $3.5 million (27%) from third quarter 2022. Wealth management fee income grew $1.0 million (21%), including favorable market-related changes, as well as growth in accounts and assets under management. Card interchange income grew $0.3 million (10%) between the comparable third quarter periods due to higher volume and activity. LSR income increased $1.6 million between the comparable third quarter periods mostly due to lower LSR amortization from the much slower prepayments speeds in the higher interest rate environment. For additional information regarding noninterest income, see “INCOME STATEMENT ANALYSIS — Noninterest Income.”
Noninterest expense was $45.7 million for third quarter 2023, an increase of $3.2 million (7%) from third quarter 2022, including a $0.2 million decrease in personnel expense and a $3.4 million increase in non-personnel expenses. The decrease in personnel included higher salaries and fringe benefits more than offset by lower incentive compensation. Occupancy, equipment, and office of $9.0 million was up $1.4 million (18%), largely due to the expanded branch network with the Charter acquisition as well as additional expense for software and technology solutions. Data processing expense was $4.6 million, up $1.0 million (27%) between the comparable third quarter periods, mostly due to volume-based increases in core and card processing charges, including the larger operating base following the Charter acquisition. Other expense was $2.8 million, an increase of $0.6 million between the comparable third quarter periods, primarily due to higher professional fees and overall higher expenses related to our larger operating base. For additional information regarding noninterest expense, see “INCOME STATEMENT ANALYSIS — Noninterest Expense.”
Income tax expense was $14.7 million (effective tax rate of 46.1%) for third quarter 2023, compared to $6.3 million (effective tax rate of 25.4%) for third quarter 2022. The change in income tax expense included a $9.1 million charge to income tax expense to establish a tax valuation allowance, partly offset by a $3.0 million reduction to income tax expense to reverse amounts recorded in the first half of 2023, both related to the Wisconsin tax law change noted above in the “Performance Summary” section.
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BALANCE SHEET ANALYSIS
At September 30, 2023, period end assets were $8.4 billion, a decrease of $348 million (4%) from December 31, 2022, mostly lower investment securities from the first quarter balance sheet repositioning, as well as subsequent investment securities maturities and paydowns, partly offset by higher cash balances. Total loans increased $59 million from December 31, 2022, with growth in residential mortgage loans partly offset by slower commercial loan demand, the sale of specific nonaccrual loans, and the payoff of two larger loan relationships. Total deposits of $7.2 billion at September 30, 2023, were minimally changed from December 31, 2022, with growth in customer and brokered time deposits partly offset by lower transaction account balances. Total borrowings decreased $345 million from December 31, 2022 in FHLB advances, mostly from the first quarter balance sheet repositioning. Total stockholders’ equity was $974 million at September 30, 2023, an increase of $2 million since December 31, 2022, with increases from earnings substantially offset by negative fair value investment changes and dividend payments.
Compared to September 30, 2022, assets decreased $480 million (5%), including lower investment securities from the first quarter balance sheet repositioning, as well as subsequent investment securities maturities and paydowns, partly offset by solid loan growth. Total loans increased $255 million, primarily in residential mortgage and agricultural loans. Total deposits decreased $214 million from September 30, 2022. Stockholders’ equity increased $36 million from September 30, 2022, with solid net income, partially offset by negative net fair value investment changes and dividend payments.

Loans
Nicolet services a diverse customer base throughout Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota. We concentrate on originating loans in our local markets and assisting current loan customers. Nicolet actively utilizes government loan programs such as those provided by the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (“FSA”).
An active credit risk management process is used to ensure that sound and consistent credit decisions are made. The credit management process is regularly reviewed and has been modified over the past several years to further strengthen the controls. Factors that are important to managing overall credit quality are sound loan underwriting and administration, systematic monitoring of existing loans and commitments, effective loan review on an ongoing basis, early problem loan identification and remedial action to minimize losses, an appropriate ACL-Loans, and sound nonaccrual and charge-off policies.
For additional disclosures on loans, see also Note 6, “Loans, Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans, and Credit Quality,” in the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1. For information regarding the allowance for credit losses and nonperforming assets see “BALANCE SHEET ANALYSIS – Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans” and “BALANCE SHEET ANALYSIS – Nonperforming Assets.” A detailed discussion of the loan portfolio accounting policies, general loan portfolio characteristics, and credit risk are described in Note 1, “Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies,” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, included in Part II, Item 8 of the Company’s 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Table 6: Period End Loan Composition
September 30, 2023 December 31, 2022 September 30, 2022
(in thousands) Amount % of Total Amount % of Total Amount % of Total
Commercial & industrial $ 1,237,789  20  % $ 1,304,819  21  % $ 1,268,252  21  %
Owner-occupied CRE 971,397  16  954,599  15  954,933  16 
Agricultural 1,108,261  18  1,088,607  18  1,017,498  17 
Commercial
3,317,447  54  3,348,025  54  3,240,683  54 
CRE investment 1,130,938  18  1,149,949  19  1,132,951  19 
Construction & land development 326,747  318,600  306,446 
Commercial real estate
1,457,685  23  1,468,549  24  1,439,397  24 
Commercial-based loans
4,775,132  77  4,816,574  78  4,680,080  78 
Residential construction 76,289  114,392  101,286 
Residential first mortgage 1,136,748  18  1,016,935  16  970,384  16 
Residential junior mortgage 195,432  177,332  176,428 
Residential real estate
1,408,469  22  1,308,659  21  1,248,098  21 
Retail & other 55,656  55,266  56,259 
Retail-based loans
1,464,125  23  1,363,925  22  1,304,357  22 
Total loans $ 6,239,257  100  % $ 6,180,499  100  % $ 5,984,437  100  %
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As noted in Table 6 above, the loan portfolio at September 30, 2023, was 77% commercial-based and 23% retail-based. Commercial-based loans are considered to have more inherent risk of default than retail-based loans, in part because of the broader list of factors that could impact a commercial borrower negatively. In addition, the commercial balance per borrower is typically larger than that for retail-based loans, implying higher potential losses on an individual customer basis. Credit risk on commercial-based loans is largely influenced by general economic conditions and the resulting impact on a borrower’s operations or on the value of underlying collateral, if any.
Total loans of $6.2 billion at September 30, 2023, increased $59 million from December 31, 2022, with growth in residential mortgage loans partly offset by slower commercial loan demand, the sale of specific nonaccrual loans, and the payoff of two larger loan relationships. At September 30, 2023, commercial and industrial loans represented the largest segment of Nicolet’s loan portfolio at 20% of the total portfolio, followed by agricultural and CRE investment each at 18% of the total portfolio. The loan portfolio is widely diversified and included the following industries: manufacturing, wholesaling, paper, packaging, food production and processing, agriculture, forest products, hospitality, retail, service, and businesses supporting the general building industry. The following chart provides the industry distribution of our commercial loan portfolio at September 30, 2023.
Commercial Loan Portfolio by Industry Type (based on NAICS codes)
Commercial Loan Portfolio by Industry_09.30.2023.jpg
The following table presents the maturity distribution of the loan portfolio.
Table 7: Loan Maturity Distribution
As of September 30, 2023
Loan Maturity
(in thousands) One Year
or Less
After One Year
to Five Years
After Five Years to Fifteen Years After Fifteen Years Total
Commercial & industrial $ 421,162  $ 648,557  $ 157,771  $ 10,299  $ 1,237,789 
Owner-occupied CRE 77,437  674,765  190,312  28,883  971,397 
Agricultural 395,017  322,060  350,574  40,610  1,108,261 
CRE investment 127,690  748,772  228,546  25,930  1,130,938 
Construction & land development 30,254  184,992  85,995  25,506  326,747 
Residential construction * 28,245  8,189  1,248  38,607  76,289 
Residential first mortgage 24,177  265,884  186,542  660,145  1,136,748 
Residential junior mortgage 15,247  18,580  34,558  127,047  195,432 
Retail & other 29,656  13,012  8,861  4,127  55,656 
   Total loans $ 1,148,885  $ 2,884,811  $ 1,244,407  $ 961,154  $ 6,239,257 
Percent by maturity distribution 19  % 46  % 20  % 15  % 100  %
Total fixed rate loans $ 505,680  $ 2,681,310  $ 863,139  $ 323,819  $ 4,373,948 
Total floating rate loans $ 643,205  $ 203,501  $ 381,268  $ 637,335  $ 1,865,309 
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As of December 31, 2022
Loan Maturity
(in thousands) One Year
or Less
After One Year
to Five Years
After Five Years to Fifteen Years After Fifteen Years Total
Commercial & industrial $ 433,319  $ 660,560  $ 197,352  $ 13,588  $ 1,304,819 
Owner-occupied CRE 78,759  639,093  208,719  28,028  954,599 
Agricultural 350,752  328,495  367,913  41,447  1,088,607 
CRE investment 129,770  737,869  250,256  32,054  1,149,949 
Construction & land development 64,169  131,889  92,379  30,163  318,600 
Residential construction * 41,049  6,922  2,091  64,330  114,392 
Residential first mortgage 22,985  263,810  202,514  527,626  1,016,935 
Residential junior mortgage 6,814  19,941  33,201  117,376  177,332 
Retail & other 27,814  15,002  8,021  4,429  55,266 
   Total loans $ 1,155,431  $ 2,803,581  $ 1,362,446  $ 859,041  $ 6,180,499 
Percent by maturity distribution 19  % 45  % 22  % 14  % 100  %
Total fixed rate loans $ 520,535  $ 2,631,295  $ 987,225  $ 315,982  $ 4,455,037 
Total floating rate loans $ 634,896  $ 172,286  $ 375,221  $ 543,059  $ 1,725,462 
* The residential construction loans with a loan maturity after five years represent a construction to permanent loan product.

Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans
For additional disclosures on the allowance for credit losses, see Note 6, “Loans, Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans, and Credit Quality,” in the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1. A detailed discussion of the loan portfolio accounting policies, general loan portfolio characteristics, and credit risk are described in Note 1, “Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies,” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, included in Part II, Item 8 of the Company’s 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Credit risks within the loan portfolio are inherently different for each loan type. Credit risk is controlled and monitored through the use of lending standards, a thorough review of potential borrowers, and ongoing review of loan payment performance. Active asset quality administration, including early problem loan identification and timely resolution of problems, aids in the management of credit risk and minimization of loan losses. Loans charged off are subject to continuous review, and specific efforts are taken to achieve maximum recovery of principal, interest, and related expenses. For additional information regarding nonperforming assets see also “BALANCE SHEET ANALYSIS – Nonperforming Assets.”
The ACL-Loans represents management’s estimate of expected credit losses in the Company’s loan portfolio at the balance sheet date. To assess the overall appropriateness of the ACL-Loans, management applies an allocation methodology which focuses on evaluation of qualitative and environmental factors, including but not limited to: (i) evaluation of facts and issues related to specific loans; (ii) management’s ongoing review and grading of the loan portfolio; (iii) consideration of historical loan loss and delinquency experience on each portfolio segment; (iv) trends in past due and nonaccrual loans; (v) the risk characteristics of the various loan segments; (vi) changes in the size and character of the loan portfolio; (vii) concentrations of loans to specific borrowers or industries; (viii) existing economic conditions; (ix) the fair value of underlying collateral; and (x) other qualitative and quantitative factors which could affect expected credit losses. Assessing these numerous factors involves significant judgment; therefore, management considers the ACL-Loans a critical accounting estimate.
Management allocates the ACL-Loans by pools of risk within each loan portfolio segment. The allocation methodology consists of the following components. First, a specific reserve is established for individually evaluated credit deteriorated loans, which management defines as nonaccrual credit relationships over $250,000, collateral dependent loans, purchased credit deteriorated loans, and other loans with evidence of credit deterioration. The specific reserve in the ACL-Loans for these credit deteriorated loans is equal to the aggregate collateral or discounted cash flow shortfall. Second, management allocates the ACL-Loans with historical loss rates by loan segment. The loss factors are measured on a quarterly basis and applied to each loan segment based on current loan balances and projected for their expected remaining life. Next, management allocates the ACL-Loans using the qualitative and environmental factors mentioned above. Consideration is given to those current qualitative or environmental factors that are likely to cause estimated credit losses at the evaluation date to differ from the historical loss experience of each loan segment. Lastly, management considers reasonable and supportable forecasts to assess the collectability of future cash flows.
At September 30, 2023, the ACL-Loans was $63 million (representing 1.01% of period end loans), minimally changed from $62 million (or 1.00% of period end loans) at December 31, 2022 and up from $60 million (or 1.01% of period end loans) at September 30, 2022. The components of the ACL-Loans are detailed further in Table 8 below.
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Table 8: Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans
Nine Months Ended Year Ended
(in thousands) September 30, 2023 September 30, 2022 December 31, 2022
ACL-Loans:
Balance at beginning of period $ 61,829  $ 49,672  $ 49,672 
ACL on PCD loans acquired —  1,709  1,937 
Provision for credit losses 1,650  9,100  10,950 
Charge-offs (1,091) (442) (1,033)
Recoveries 772  309  303 
Net (charge-offs) recoveries (319) (133) (730)
Balance at end of period $ 63,160  $ 60,348  $ 61,829 
Net loan (charge-offs) recoveries:
Commercial & industrial $ 115  $ (49) $ (86)
Owner-occupied CRE (60) (36) (555)
Agricultural (63) —  — 
CRE investment —  169  169 
Construction & land development —  —  — 
Residential construction —  —  — 
Residential first mortgage (58) (57)
Residential junior mortgage (96)
Retail & other (218) (168) (202)
Total net (charge-offs) recoveries $ (319) $ (133) $ (730)
Ratios:
ACL-Loans to total loans 1.01  % 1.01  % 1.00  %
Net charge-offs to average loans, annualized 0.01  % —  % 0.01  %

Nonperforming Assets
As part of its overall credit risk management process, management is committed to an aggressive problem loan identification philosophy. This philosophy has been implemented through the ongoing monitoring and review of all pools of risk in the loan portfolio to identify problem loans early and minimize the risk of loss. Management continues to actively work with customers and monitor credit risk from the ongoing macroeconomic challenges. For additional disclosures on credit quality, see Note 6, “Loans, Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans, and Credit Quality” of the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1. For additional information on loans see “BALANCE SHEET ANALYSIS – Loans” and for additional information on the ACL-Loans see “BALANCE SHEET ANALYSIS – Allowance for Credit Losses-Loans.”
Nonperforming loans are considered one indicator of potential future loan losses. Nonperforming loans are defined as nonaccrual loans and loans 90 days or more past due but still accruing interest. Loans are generally placed on nonaccrual status when contractually past due 90 days or more as to interest or principal payments. Additionally, whenever management becomes aware of facts or circumstances that may adversely impact the collectability of principal or interest on loans, it is management’s practice to place such loans on nonaccrual status immediately. Nonperforming assets include nonperforming loans and other real estate owned (“OREO”). At September 30, 2023, nonperforming assets were $32 million and represented 0.37% of total assets, compared to $40 million or 0.46% of total assets at December 31, 2022. The reduction in nonperforming assets was mostly due to the nonaccrual loan sale (as noted under “BALANCE SHEET ANALYSIS – Loans” above).
The level of potential problem loans is another predominant factor in determining the relative level of risk in the loan portfolio and in determining the appropriate level of the ACL-Loans. Potential problem loans are generally defined by management to include loans rated as Substandard by management but that are in performing status; however, there are circumstances present which might adversely affect the ability of the borrower to comply with present repayment terms. The decision of management to include performing loans in potential problem loans does not necessarily mean that Nicolet expects losses to occur, but that management recognizes a higher degree of risk associated with these loans. The loans that have been reported as potential problem loans are predominantly commercial-based loans covering a diverse range of businesses and real estate property types. Potential problem loans were $72 million (1% of loans) and $53 million (1% of loans) at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, with the increase primarily due to the downgrade of one commercial credit relationship. Potential problem loans require heightened management review given the pace at which a credit may deteriorate, the potential duration of asset quality stress, and uncertainty around the magnitude and scope of economic stress that may be felt by Nicolet’s customers and on underlying real estate values.
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Table 9: Nonperforming Assets
(in thousands) September 30, 2023 December 31, 2022 September 30, 2022
Nonperforming loans:
Commercial & industrial $ 5,192  $ 3,328  $ 3,052 
Owner-occupied CRE 5,602  5,647  5,806 
Agricultural 13,458  20,416  20,646 
Commercial 24,252  29,391  29,504 
CRE investment 1,100  3,832  3,343 
Construction & land development 177  771  794 
Commercial real estate 1,277  4,603  4,137 
Commercial-based loans 25,529  33,994  33,641 
Residential construction —  —  — 
Residential first mortgage 3,812  3,780  4,309 
Residential junior mortgage 92  224  277 
Residential real estate 3,904  4,004  4,586 
Retail & other 74  82  99 
Retail-based loans
3,978  4,086  4,685 
Total nonaccrual loans
29,507  38,080  38,326 
Accruing loans past due 90 days or more —  —  — 
Total nonperforming loans
$ 29,507  $ 38,080  $ 38,326 
Nonaccrual loans (included above) covered by guarantees $ 5,919  $ 5,459  $ 5,493 
OREO:
Commercial real estate owned $ 1,147  $ 628  $ 628 
Bank property real estate owned 884  1,347  1,506 
Total OREO
2,031  1,975  2,134 
Total nonperforming assets
$ 31,538  $ 40,055  $ 40,460 
Ratios:
Nonperforming loans to total loans 0.47  % 0.62  % 0.64  %
Nonperforming assets to total loans plus OREO 0.51  % 0.65  % 0.68  %
Nonperforming assets to total assets 0.37  % 0.46  % 0.45  %
ACL-Loans to nonperforming loans 214  % 162  % 157  %
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Deposits
Deposits represent Nicolet’s largest source of funds, and the strong core deposit base provides a stable funding source. Core deposit balances of $6.6 billion at September 30, 2023 were minimally changed from December 31, 2022, and included a shift to higher rate deposit products (mostly money market accounts and time deposits). Compared to September 30, 2022, core deposits decreased $178 million (3%) and brokered deposits decreased $35 million (5%). The deposit composition is presented in Table 10 below.
Table 10: Period End Deposit Composition
September 30, 2023 December 31, 2022 September 30, 2022
(in thousands) Amount % of Total Amount % of Total Amount % of Total
Noninterest-bearing demand $ 2,020,074  28  % $ 2,361,816  33  % $ 2,477,507  33  %
Interest-bearing demand 955,746  13  % 1,279,850  18  % 1,242,961  17  %
Money market 1,933,227  27  % 1,707,619  24  % 1,769,444  24  %
Savings 789,045  11  % 931,417  13  % 939,832  13  %
Time 1,484,296  21  % 898,219  12  % 966,158  13  %
Total deposits
$ 7,182,388  100  % $ 7,178,921  100  % $ 7,395,902  100  %
Brokered transaction accounts $ 146,517  % $ 252,829  % $ 252,891  %
Brokered and listed time deposits 457,433  % 339,066  % 386,101  %
Total brokered deposits
$ 603,950  % $ 591,895  % $ 638,992  %
Customer transaction accounts $ 5,551,575  77  % $ 6,027,873  84  % $ 6,176,853  84  %
Customer time deposits 1,026,863  15  % 559,153  % 580,057  %
Total customer deposits (core)
$ 6,578,438  92  % $ 6,587,026  92  % $ 6,756,910  92  %
Total estimated uninsured deposits were $2.0 billion (representing 29% of total deposits) at September 30, 2023, compared to $2.3 billion (representing 32% of total deposits) at December 31, 2022.

Lending-Related Commitments
As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, Nicolet had the following off-balance sheet lending-related commitments.
Table 11: Commitments
(in thousands) September 30, 2023 December 31, 2022
Commitments to extend credit $ 1,810,068  $ 1,850,601 
Financial standby letters of credit 18,235  26,530 
Performance standby letters of credit 15,814  9,375 
For additional disclosures on lending-related commitments, see Note 9, “Commitments and Contingencies” of the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1.

Liquidity Management
Liquidity management refers to the ability to ensure that adequate liquid funds are available to meet the current and future cash flow obligations arising in the daily operations of the Company. These cash flow obligations include the ability to meet the commitments to borrowers for extensions of credit, accommodate deposit cycles and trends, fund capital expenditures, pay dividends to stockholders (if any), and satisfy other operating expenses. The Company’s most liquid assets are cash and due from banks and interest-earning deposits, which totaled $546 million and $155 million at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. Balances of these liquid assets are dependent on our operating, investing, and financing activities during any given period.
The $391 million increase in cash and cash equivalents since year-end 2022 included $70 million net cash provided by operating activities and $670 million net cash provided by investing activities (mostly investment sales from the balance sheet repositioning), partly offset by $349 million net cash used in financing activities (mostly repayment of FHLB borrowings from the balance sheet repositioning). As of September 30, 2023, management believed that adequate liquidity existed to meet all projected cash flow obligations.
Nicolet’s primary sources of funds include the core deposit base, repayment and maturity of loans, investment securities calls, maturities, and sales, and procurement of brokered deposits or other wholesale funding. At September 30, 2023, approximately 43% of the investment securities portfolio was pledged as collateral to secure public deposits and borrowings, as applicable, and for liquidity or other purposes as required by regulation.
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Liquidity sources available to the Company at September 30, 2023, are presented in Table 12 below.
Table 12: Liquidity Sources
(in millions) September 30, 2023
FHLB Borrowing Availability (1)
$ 560 
Fed Funds Lines 195
Fed Discount Window 11
Immediate Funding Availability $ 766 
Brokered Capacity 1,192 
Guaranteed portion of SBA loans 87 
Other funding sources 96 
Short-Term Funding Availability (2)
$ 1,375 
Total Contingent Funding Availability $ 2,141 
(1) Excludes outstanding FHLB borrowings of $5 million at September 30, 2023.
(2) Short-term funding availability defined as funding that could be secured between 2 and 30 days.
Management is committed to the Parent Company being a source of strength to the Bank and its other subsidiaries, and therefore, regularly evaluates capital and liquidity positions of the Parent Company in light of current and projected needs, growth or strategies. The Parent Company uses cash for normal expenses, debt service requirements and, when opportune, for common stock repurchases, repayment of debt, or investment in other strategic actions such as mergers or acquisitions. At September 30, 2023, the Parent Company had $49 million in cash. Additional cash sources available to the Parent Company include access to the public or private markets to issue new equity, subordinated notes or other debt. Dividends from the Bank and, to a lesser extent, stock option exercises, represent significant sources of cash flows for the Parent Company. The Bank is required by federal law to obtain prior approval of the OCC for payments of dividends if the total of all dividends declared by the Bank in any year will exceed certain thresholds. Management does not believe that regulatory restrictions on dividends from the Bank will adversely affect its ability to meet its cash obligations.

Interest Rate Sensitivity Management and Impact of Inflation
A reasonable balance between interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk and maintenance of yield, is highly important to Nicolet’s business success and profitability. As an ongoing part of our financial strategy and risk management, we attempt to understand and manage the impact of fluctuations in market interest rates on our net interest income. The consolidated balance sheet consists mainly of interest-earning assets (loans, investments and cash) which are primarily funded by interest-bearing liabilities (deposits and other borrowings). Such financial instruments have varying levels of sensitivity to changes in market rates of interest. Market rates are highly sensitive to many factors beyond our control, including but not limited to general economic conditions and policies of governmental and regulatory authorities. Our operating income and net income depends, to a substantial extent, on “rate spread” (i.e., the difference between the income earned on loans, investments and other earning assets and the interest expense paid to obtain deposits and other funding liabilities).
Asset-liability management policies establish guidelines for acceptable limits on the sensitivity to changes in interest rates on earnings and market value of assets and liabilities. Such policies are set and monitored by management and the Board of Directors’ Asset and Liability Committee.
To understand and manage the impact of fluctuations in market interest rates on net interest income, we measure our overall interest rate sensitivity through a net interest income analysis, which calculates the change in net interest income in the event of hypothetical changes in interest rates under different scenarios versus a baseline scenario. Such scenarios can involve static balance sheets, balance sheets with projected growth, parallel (or non-parallel) yield curve slope changes, immediate or gradual changes in market interest rates, and one-year or longer time horizons. The simulation modeling uses assumptions involving market spreads, prepayments of rate-sensitive instruments, renewal rates on maturing or new loans, deposit retention rates, and other assumptions.
Among other scenarios, we assessed the impact on net interest income in the event of a gradual +/-100 bps and +/-200 bps change in market rates (parallel to the change in prime rate) over a one-year time horizon to a static (flat) balance sheet. The results provided include the liquidity measures mentioned above and reflect the higher interest rate environment. The interest rate scenarios are used for analytical purposes only and do not necessarily represent management’s view of future market interest rate movements. Based on financial data at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the projected changes in net interest income over a one-year time horizon, versus the baseline, are presented in Table 13 below. The results are within Nicolet’s guidelines of not greater than -10% for +/- 100 bps and not greater than -15% for +/- 200 bps.
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Table 13: Interest Rate Sensitivity
September 30, 2023 December 31, 2022
200 bps decrease in interest rates (1.8) % (0.7) %
100 bps decrease in interest rates (0.9) % (0.4) %
100 bps increase in interest rates 1.1  % —  %
200 bps increase in interest rates 2.3  % 0.1  %
Actual results may differ from these simulated results due to timing, magnitude and frequency of interest rate changes, as well as changes in market conditions and their impact on customer behavior and management strategies.
The effect of inflation on a financial institution differs significantly from the effect on an industrial company. While a financial institution’s operating expenses, particularly salary and employee benefits, are affected by general inflation, the asset and liability structure of a financial institution consists largely of monetary items. Monetary items, such as cash, investments, loans, deposits and other borrowings, are those assets and liabilities which are or will be converted into a fixed number of dollars regardless of changes in prices. As a result, changes in interest rates have a more significant impact on a financial institution’s performance than does general inflation. Inflation may also have impacts on the Bank’s customers, on businesses and consumers and their ability or willingness to invest, save or spend, and perhaps on their ability to repay loans. As such, there would likely be impacts on the general appetite for banking products and the credit health of the Bank’s customer base.

Capital
Management regularly reviews the adequacy of its capital to ensure that sufficient capital is available for current and future needs and is in compliance with regulatory guidelines. The capital position and strategies are actively reviewed in light of perceived business risks associated with current and prospective earning levels, liquidity, asset quality, economic conditions in the markets served, and level of returns available to shareholders. Management intends to maintain an optimal capital and leverage mix for growth and shareholder return. For details on the change in capital see “BALANCE SHEET ANALYSIS.”
The Company’s and the Bank’s regulatory capital ratios remain above minimum regulatory ratios, including the capital conservation buffer. At September 30, 2023, the Bank’s regulatory capital ratios qualify the Bank as well-capitalized under the prompt-corrective action framework. This strong base of capital has allowed Nicolet to be opportunistic in strategic growth. A summary of the Company’s and the Bank’s regulatory capital amounts and ratios, as well as selected capital metrics are presented in the following table.
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Table 14: Capital
At or for the Nine Months Ended
At or for the
Year Ended
($ in thousands) September 30, 2023 December 31, 2022
Company Stock Repurchases: *
Common stock repurchased during the period (dollars) $ 1,519  $ 61,483 
Common stock repurchased during the period (full shares) 26,853  671,662 
Company Risk-Based Capital:
Total risk-based capital $ 920,142  $ 889,763 
Tier 1 risk-based capital 715,567  684,280 
Common equity Tier 1 capital 677,004  646,341 
Total capital ratio 13.0  % 12.3  %
Tier 1 capital ratio 10.1  % 9.5  %
Common equity tier 1 capital ratio 9.6  % 9.0  %
Tier 1 leverage ratio 8.8  % 8.2  %
Bank Risk-Based Capital:
Total risk-based capital $ 863,617  $ 816,951 
Tier 1 risk-based capital 805,452  764,090 
Common equity Tier 1 capital 805,452  764,090 
Total capital ratio 12.2  % 11.3  %
Tier 1 capital ratio 11.4  % 10.6  %
Common equity tier 1 capital ratio 11.4  % 10.6  %
Tier 1 leverage ratio 9.9  % 9.1  %
* Reflects common stock repurchased under board of director authorizations for the common stock repurchase program.
In managing capital for optimal return, we evaluate capital sources and uses, pricing and availability of our stock in the market, and alternative uses of capital (such as the level of organic growth or acquisition opportunities, dividends, or repayment of equity-equivalent debt) in light of strategic plans. At September 30, 2023, there remains $46 million authorized under this repurchase program, as modified, to be utilized from time-to-time to repurchase shares in the open market, through block transactions or in private transactions.

Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates, assumptions or judgments that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. These estimates and assumptions are based on historical experience, current information, and other factors deemed to be relevant; accordingly, as this information changes, actual results could differ from those estimates. Nicolet considers accounting estimates to be critical to reported financial results if the accounting estimate requires management to make assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain and different estimates that management reasonably could have used for the accounting estimate in the current period, or changes in the accounting estimate that are reasonably likely to occur from period to period, could have a material impact on the financial statements. The accounting estimates we consider to be critical include business combinations and the valuation of loans acquired, the determination of the allowance for credit losses, and income taxes. A discussion of these estimates can be found in the “Critical Accounting Estimates” section in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in the Company’s 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K. There have been no changes in the Company’s determination of critical accounting policies and estimates since December 31, 2022.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
There have been no material changes in our market risk at September 30, 2023, from that presented in our 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K. See section “Interest Rate Sensitivity Management and Impact of Inflation” within Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations under Part I, Item 2, for our interest rate sensitivity position at September 30, 2023.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
(a) Disclosure Controls and Procedures. Management, under the supervision, and with the participation, of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, evaluated our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)). Based upon that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.
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(b) Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)) during the quarter covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company and its subsidiaries may be involved from time to time in various routine legal proceedings incidental to our respective businesses. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries are currently engaged in any legal proceedings that are expected to have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial position.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
There have been no material changes in the risk factors previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The following table contains information regarding purchases of Nicolet’s common stock made during third quarter 2023 by or on behalf of the Company or any “affiliated purchaser,” as defined by Rule 10b-18(a)(3) of the Exchange Act.
Total Number of
Shares Purchased (a)
Average Price
Paid per Share
Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs
Maximum Number of
Shares that May Yet
Be Purchased Under
the Plans
or Programs (b)
(#) ($) (#) (#)
Period
July 1 – July 31, 2023 39,745  $ 80.60  — 
August 1 – August 31, 2023 —  $ —  — 
September 1 – September 30, 2023 —  $ —  — 
Total 39,745  $ 80.60  —  659,000 
a.During third quarter 2023, the Company withheld no common shares for minimum tax withholding settlements on restricted stock, and withheld 39,745 common shares to satisfy the exercise price and tax withholding requirements on stock option exercises. These are not considered “repurchases” and, therefore, do not count against the maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under the Board of Directors’ authorization.
b.The Board of Directors approved a common stock repurchase program which authorized, with subsequent modifications, the use of up to $276 million to repurchase outstanding shares of common stock. This common stock repurchase program was last modified on April 19, 2022, and has no expiration date. There were no common stock repurchases under this program during third quarter 2023. At September 30, 2023, approximately $46 million remained available under this common stock repurchase program, or approximately 659,000 shares of common stock (based upon the closing stock price of $69.78 on September 30, 2023).
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
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ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
Atwell Agreement: In connection with the Company’s succession and transition plan, on November 6, 2023, Robert B. Atwell, our Executive Chairman and one of Nicolet’s founders, and the Company entered into a letter agreement (the “Atwell Agreement”) setting forth the terms applicable to his transition from active employment as the Executive Chairman through December 31, 2023 (the “Transition Date”), to thereafter as an advisor for a period of three years following the Transition Date (the “Term”). In consideration of the services provided and compliance with the restrictive covenants (described below) during the Term, Mr. Atwell will receive an annual fee of $680,000, health insurance coverage for Mr. Atwell and his qualified dependents, Nicolet will continue to pay the premiums for specified life insurance policies, and Nicolet will transfer ownership of his current company-owned car to Mr. Atwell. Pursuant to the Atwell Agreement, Mr. Atwell agreed to be bound by a noncompetition restriction and employee and customer non-solicitation covenants while he is providing services to the Company and for three years thereafter. Mt. Atwell will remain a member of the Company’s Board of Directors.

The foregoing summary of the material terms of the Atwell Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Rule 10b5-1 and Non-Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangements: None.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
The following exhibits are filed herewith:
Exhibit
Number
Description
10.1
31.1
31.2
32.1
32.2
101
Interactive data files for Nicolet Bankshares, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, formatted in Inline XBRL: (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited), (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited), (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (unaudited), (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (unaudited), (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited), and (vi) Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.
104
Cover Page from Nicolet Bankshares, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 (formatted in Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
NICOLET BANKSHARES, INC.
November 7, 2023 /s/ Michael E. Daniels
Michael E. Daniels
President and Chief Executive Officer
November 7, 2023 /s/ H. Phillip Moore, Jr.
H. Phillip Moore, Jr.
Chief Financial Officer

53
EX-10.1 2 nic-3q23x10qxex101.htm EX-10.1 Document

EXHIBIT 10.1


nicoletbanksharesa08a.jpg


November 6, 2023

Mr. Robert Atwell
111 N. Washington Street
Green Bay, WI 54301


Re: Succession Plan and Executive Advisory Services

Dear Bob:

The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. (“Nicolet”) has determined that it is in the best interest of Nicolet and its shareholders to set forth the details of your continued services following the announcement of Nicolet’s succession plan, including the conclusion of your role as Chairman of the Board of Nicolet and Nicolet National Bank (the “Bank”), your transition from active employment, and your continued service thereafter as an advisor to Nicolet. This letter sets forth the agreement between you and Nicolet with respect to such succession plan. As a founder and the current Chairman of the Board, Nicolet values and appreciates your commitment to providing continuing service, support, and expertise to ensure a seamless implementation of the succession plan.

1.Effective Date. The terms of this letter will become effective as of December 31, 2023 (your “Transition Date”).

2.Termination of Amended and Restated Employment Agreement. The terms of this letter will supersede and replace, in its entirety, your Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated March 7, 2019 which is the only active employment agreement related to your current position.

3.Termination of Employment. Your role as Chairman of the Board of Nicolet and the Bank and your employment with Nicolet and any of its subsidiaries will end on the Transition Date.

4.Executive Advisor Services. For a period of three (3) years following your Transition Date (the “Term”), Nicolet will retain you as an Executive Advisor, on an independent contractor basis (see paragraph 11 below for additional information regarding independent contractor status). While engaged by Nicolet, you will perform such duties as the Board may assign in its sole discretion or as requested by the CEO of Nicolet which may include, without limitation, the following services (the “Services):

a.providing advice and counsel to the CEO;

b.assisting with special projects as requested by the Board or the CEO;

c.assisting with the maintenance and development of community, customer, and business relations; or

d.such other matters commensurate with your experience and status as may be mutually agreed between the Board, the CEO and you from time to time, which may include continuing your leadership of initiatives you advanced while serving as Chairman.









In your capacity as an Executive Advisor, you will not be in charge of any principal business unit, division, or function of Nicolet, nor will you perform any policy-making functions for Nicolet.

Nicolet expects that you will devote sufficient time, attention, and energies to the business of Nicolet during the Term to provide the Services. We reasonably anticipate that your level of services to Nicolet during the Term will be at least 50% of those services that you provided to Nicolet during the 36-month period preceding the Transition Date.

5.Board Membership. Your current term as a director will continue through the 2024 annual meeting of shareholders. Thereafter, upon nomination as a director and as a non-employee, you will be entitled to receive Board fees in an amount established by the Board of Directors and reimbursement for expenses consistent with Nicolet’s policies and practices with respect to Board members.

6.Services to Other Entities. You may provide services to other entities during the Term provided that you do not engage in any business, trade, profession, or other activity that would violate Nicolet’s Code of Ethics or the restrictive covenants contained herein. By way of example, nothing herein shall prevent you from (a) investing your personal assets or resources in such form or manner as will not require any services on your part in the operation or the affairs of any other entities in which your participation is solely that of an investor, (b) engaging, whether or not during normal business hours, in any other professional, civic, or philanthropic activities, or (c) accepting appointments to boards of directors of other private or public companies, provided that the Board approves of such appointments.

7.Location of Services. You may perform the Services at such locations as you reasonably deem appropriate, subject to your being available and present at such meetings and events as may be necessary to perform the Services.

8.Remuneration for Services. During the Term, and in consideration of the Services and your compliance with the restrictive covenants contained herein, Nicolet will provide you with the following benefits:

a.Advisor Fee. Nicolet will pay you an annual fee of $680,000.00 (the "Advisor Fee"), which Nicolet shall pay on a monthly basis in arrears. As an independent contractor, you will receive an IRS Form 1099-NEC from Nicolet and you will be solely responsible to remit all federal, state, and local taxes. You will indemnify Nicolet against all such taxes or contributions, including penalties and interest.

b.Office Space. Nicolet will provide you an office at its downtown Green Bay location. During the Term, Nicolet reserves the right to change the location of your office space if Nicolet needs your then-current space for business operations. After the Term, Nicolet may terminate your use of the office space upon giving you not less than thirty (30) days’ advance notice. Your office space will include a computer, phone, and other hardware similar to what you used on your Transition Date.

c.E-Mail/Phone Number. You will have continued use of your existing batwell@nicoletbank.com e-mail address and your current direct dial phone number.

d.Administrative Support. Nicolet will provide you with full time administrative support from your current assistant (or a replacement as selected by you if your current assistant retires or otherwise terminates) on the same basis as provided to you prior to the Transition Date. Your assistant will remain an employee of Nicolet and will receive compensation and benefits consistent with Nicolet’s policies during the Term.







e.Insurance (health, vision, dental, Armada Care). It is Nicolet’s intent that you and your qualified dependents will be insured during the Term, as provided herein.

i.If you or any of your qualified dependents are eligible for Medicare but have not enrolled in Medicare Parts A or B, you or they will do so prior to the Transition Date. You or they will be solely responsible for Medicare enrollment. It is our mutual intent that Nicolet-sponsored plans (as described in (ii), below) will provide secondary coverage for all covered health-related expenses when Medicare is available.

ii.During the Term, you and your qualified dependents may elect to continue participation in the Nicolet-sponsored group health plan in which you participated on the Transition Date (under a newly created Founder/Retiree Classification). Nicolet will continue to share the costs of coverage with you and your qualified dependents in the same ratio as Nicolet employees, with the value of Nicolet’s contribution being taxable to you as a non-employee. You will be solely responsible for timely electing coverage under Nicolet-sponsored plans.

iii.Nicolet will provide you and your qualified dependents notice of COBRA continuation rights when applicable. You and they will be solely responsible for timely electing COBRA coverage, if you or they choose to do so. Any COBRA premiums incurred after the end of the Term will be your sole responsibility.

f.Vehicle. Nicolet will transfer ownership to you of your current Nicolet-owned vehicle.

g.BOLI/Life Insurance. Nicolet will continue to pay the premiums all policies currently in effect.

9.Termination of Services. Your Services as an Executive Advisor may be terminated only in the following events:

a.By Mutual Agreement. You and Nicolet may mutually agree to terminate your Services at any time.

b.By Nicolet For Cause. Nicolet may immediately terminate the Services For Cause upon written notice to you, where the notice has been approved by a resolution passed by two thirds (2/3) of the Board of Directors. “For Cause” includes: (i) your refusal to perform Services as requested by the CEO or the Board; (ii) your involvement in conduct that constitutes fraud, dishonesty or willful misconduct in the performance of Services; (iii) you are arrested for, charged with, or convicted of any crime or violation of any municipal, state, or federal regulation (including misdemeanor or felony offenses) involving breach of trust or moral turpitude; (iv) your breach of any requirement herein, or (v) any gross and willful insubordination or inattention to the Services provided herein. Upon termination For Cause, all of Nicolet’s obligations herein shall terminate.

c.By You for Good Reason. You may terminate Services for Good Reason by providing (30) days' advance written notice of such termination, but only if Nicolet fails to cure the cited reason during that period. “Good Reason” means Nicolet’s failure to provide any benefit described herein. Upon termination For Good Reason, Nicolet’s obligations herein shall continue to the end of the Term.
d.Death. The Term shall end automatically upon your death, in which event Nicolet’s obligations under Section 8(a) shall continue to the end of the Term and all other obligations shall terminate upon your death.







e.Change in Control. In the event of a Change in Control (as defined in Code Section 409A), Nicolet’s successor will be bound by the terms of this letter; provided that Nicolet’s successor may elect to accelerate all payments due to you.

10.Claw back of Incentive Compensation. You will continue to be subject to any Nicolet policies adopted by the Board prior to your Transition Date concerning the claw back of incentive compensation that you received prior to your Transition Date.

11.Status as an Independent Contractor. While serving as an Executive Advisor, you will be an independent contractor, not an employee, and Nicolet will not exercise general supervision or control over the manner or means by which you provide the Services. This letter does not create any association, partnership, joint venture, employment, or agency relationship between you and Nicolet for any purpose. Following your Transition Date, you will not have authority (and shall not hold yourself out as having authority) to bind Nicolet and you shall not make any agreements or representations on Nicolet's behalf without Nicolet's prior written consent. Other than as expressly provided herein, you will not be eligible to participate in any vacation, sick leave, disability, profit sharing, employee stock purchase plan, retirement benefits, or any other fringe benefits or benefit plans offered by Nicolet to its employees.
12.Intellectual Property Rights. Nicolet shall exclusively own all work product of any nature that you produce in delivering the Services (collectively, the "Work Product"), including work product that constitutes intellectual property rights. You acknowledge and agree that any and all Work Product that may qualify as "work made for hire" as defined in the Copyright Act of 1976 (17 U.S.C. § 101) is "work made for hire" for Nicolet and all copyrights therein shall automatically and immediately vest in Nicolet. As between you and Nicolet, Nicolet is, and will remain, the sole and exclusive owner of all right, title, and interest in and to any documents, specifications, data, know-how, methodologies, software, and other materials provided to you by Nicolet ("Company Materials"). You have no right or license to reproduce or use any Company Materials except solely during the Term to the extent necessary to perform the Services. You have no right or license to use Nicolet's trademarks, service marks, trade names, logos, symbols, or brand names.

13.Restrictive Covenants. As a founder and named executive officer of Nicolet, you have intimate knowledge of Nicolet’s business operations and customers, including confidential and proprietary information that would be of great value to competitive companies. During the Term and for a period of three (3) years following the end of the Term (the “Restriction Period”), you agree to the following:

a.Non solicitation of Customers. You will not (except on behalf of or with the prior written consent of Nicolet), on your own behalf or in the service or on behalf of others, solicit, divert, or appropriate or attempt to solicit, divert or appropriate, any business from any of Nicolet’s customers with whom you have or had any Material Contact for purposes of providing products or financial services that are competitive with those provided by Nicolet. For purposes of this subparagraph, “Material Contact” means contact between you and each customer: (i) with whom you dealt on behalf of Nicolet in a business capacity or about whom or which you obtained confidential information in the ordinary course of business as a result of your association with Nicolet; and (ii) who received products or services from Nicolet and/or one or more of its subsidiaries within two (2) years prior to the end of the Term.

b.Non solicitation of Employees. You agree that you will not (except with the prior written consent of Nicolet) on your own behalf or in the service or on behalf of others, solicit or recruit or attempt to solicit or recruit any employee of Nicolet with whom you had material contact during the two (2) years prior to your Transition Date. It will not be a violation of the foregoing for you to serve as a reference. For purposes of this subparagraph, “Material Contact” means contact between you and each employee with whom you had direct or indirect supervisory authority within the two (2) years prior to the end of the Term.







c.Non-Competition. You will not, within the Restricted Area (as defined below), on your own behalf or on behalf of any other person: (a) assist or have an active interest in any firm, partnership, association, corporation or business organization, entity or enterprise that is or is about to become directly or indirectly engaged in, any business or activity that competes in any manner with the financial services that were offered by Nicolet or its subsidiaries on your Transition Date; or (b) enter into the employment of or act as an independent contractor, director, agent for or advisor or consultant to, any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, business organization, entity or enterprise that is or is about to become directly or indirectly engaged in any business or activity (whether such enterprise is in operation or in the planning or development stage) that competes in any manner with the financial services that were offered by Nicolet or its subsidiaries on your Transition Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you may (a) make passive investments in the stock of any mutual company or publicly traded business (including a competitive business) as long as the stock investment in any competitive business does not rise above one percent (1 %) of the outstanding shares of such business, and (b) remain on all boards of directors in which you were a member immediately prior to your cessation of your Transition Date. For purposes of this subsection, “Restricted Area” means the geographic areas encompassed by a fifty (50) mile radius from each of Nicolet’s branch offices. It is the express intent of the parties that the Restricted Area as defined herein is the area where you have historically performed services on behalf of Nicolet while employed at Nicolet, and where you will continue to perform Services.

d.Confidentiality. You may have access to information that is confidential and proprietary by Nicolet including, without limitation, information pertaining to business operations and strategies, customers, pricing, marketing, finances, and operations of Nicolet and its subsidiaries, or their suppliers or customers (collectively, the "Confidential Information"). You agree to treat all Confidential Information as strictly confidential, not to disclose Confidential Information or permit it to be disclosed, in whole or part, to any third party without the prior written consent of Nicolet, and not to use any Confidential Information for any purpose except as required in the performance of the Services. You shall notify Nicolet immediately in the event you become aware of any loss or disclosure of any Confidential Information. Confidential does not include information that (i) is or becomes generally available to the public other than through your breach of this letter; or (ii) is communicated to you by a third party that had no confidentiality obligations with respect to such information.

Nothing herein shall prevent disclosure of Confidential Information as may be required by applicable law or regulation, or pursuant to the valid order of a court of competent jurisdiction or an authorized government agency, provided that the disclosure does not exceed the extent of disclosure required by such law, regulation, or order. You agree to provide written notice of any such order to an authorized officer of Nicolet within three (3) business days of receiving such order, but in any event sufficiently in advance of making any disclosure to permit Nicolet to contest the order or seek confidentiality protections, as determined in Nicolet's sole discretion.

You will not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for any disclosure of a trade secret that (i) is made: (A) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (B) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (ii) is made in a complaint or other document that is filed under seal in a lawsuit or other proceeding. Also, if you file a lawsuit for retaliation by Nicolet for reporting a suspected violation of law, you may disclose Nicolet's trade secrets to your attorney and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding if you (i) file any document containing the trade secret under seal; and (ii) do not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.

e.Remedies. You agree that the covenants contained in this Section are reasonable and necessary to protect Nicolet’s on-going business, interests and properties, and that Nicolet will suffer irreparable loss and damage should you breach any of the covenants. Therefore, you agree and consent that, in addition to all the remedies provided by law or in equity, Nicolet may seek a temporary restraining order and temporary and permanent injunctions to prevent a breach or contemplated breach of any of the covenants. All remedies of Nicolet shall be cumulative.







14.Miscellaneous Provisions.

a.Section 409A. Any payment to which you are entitled under this letter shall be exempt from Section 409A of the Code to the maximum extent permitted under Section 409A of the Code. However, to the extent any such amounts are considered to be “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code, such amounts shall be paid and provided in a manner, and at such time and form, as complies with the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code to avoid the unfavorable tax consequences provided therein for non-compliance. Neither you nor Nicolet shall intentionally take any action to accelerate or delay the payment of any amounts in any manner which would not be in compliance with Section 409A of the Code without the consent of the other party. For purposes of this letter, all rights to payments shall be treated as rights to receive a series of separate payments to the fullest extent allowed by Section 409A of the Code. It is also intended that the payments satisfy, to the greatest extent possible, the exemptions from the application of Code Section 409A, including those provided under Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) (regarding short-term deferrals), Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii) (regarding the severance pay exception) and Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iv) (regarding reimbursements and other separation pay).

b.Applicability of Nicolet’s Policies. You agree that, while performing Services for Nicolet, you will be subject to and abide by the written policies and practices of Nicolet including the Code of Ethics and those internal policies related to safety and security.

c.Severability. Each of the terms included in this letter is separate, distinct, and severable from the other provisions and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other term. Further, if any term is ruled invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction because of a conflict between the provision and any applicable law or public policy, the term shall be redrawn to make the provision consistent with, and valid and enforceable under, the law or public policy.

d.Assignment. The rights and obligations of Nicolet shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of Nicolet, including without limitation, a purchaser of all or substantially all the assets of Nicolet. If so assigned, the assignment shall be by novation and Nicolet shall have no further liability hereunder, and the successor or assign, as applicable, shall substitute for Nicolet, but you will not be deemed to have experienced a Termination of Employment by virtue of such assignment.

e.Waiver. A waiver of any breach of any term in this letter shall not be effective unless in writing, and no waiver shall operate or be construed as a waiver of the same or another breach on a subsequent occasion.

f.Mediation. If any dispute arises out of or relates to this letter, or a breach thereof, and if the dispute cannot be settled through direct discussions between you and Nicolet, we will first endeavor to settle the dispute in an amicable manner by mediation under the Commercial Mediation Rules of the American Arbitration Association before resorting to any other process for resolving the dispute.

g.Applicable Law and Choice of Forum. This letter shall be construed and enforced under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Wisconsin. Any appropriate state court located in Brown County, Wisconsin or federal court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin shall have jurisdiction of any case or controversy arising under or in connection with this letter and shall be a proper forum in which to adjudicate such case or controversy. You and Nicolet each consent and waive any objection to the jurisdiction or venue of such courts.







h.Interpretation. Any captions, titles or headings preceding the text of any article, section or subsection herein are solely for convenience of reference and shall not constitute part of this letter or affect its meaning, construction, or effect.

i.Entire Agreement. This letter embodies the entire and final agreement of the parties on the subject matter stated herein. No amendment or modifications shall be valid or binding upon Nicolet or you unless made in writing and signed by all parties. All prior understandings and agreements relating to the subject matter of this letter are hereby expressly terminated without any obligations owing to you on account of the termination of those agreements.

j.Rights of Third Parties. Nothing herein expressed is intended to or shall be construed to confer upon or give to any person, firm, or other entity, other than the parties hereto and their permitted assigns, any rights, or remedies.

k.Costs of Enforcement. If a dispute related to a breach of the any term contained herein results in a legal action initiated by either you or Nicolet, the successful or prevailing party in such action shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys’ fees, court costs and all expenses incurred in that action.

If this letter accurately sets forth our understanding, kindly execute the enclosed copy of this letter and return it to the undersigned.

Sincerely yours,


Michael E. Daniels
President & CEO


ACCEPTED AND AGREED

/s/ Bob Atwell 11/6/2023
Bob Atwell Date


EX-31.1 3 nic-3q23x10qxex311.htm EX-31.1 Document

EXHIBIT 31.1
Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to
Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Michael E. Daniels, certify that:
1.I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. (the “registrant”);
2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a.Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b.Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c.Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d.Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a.All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and
b.Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
November 7, 2023 /s/ Michael E. Daniels
Michael E. Daniels
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)


EX-31.2 4 nic-3q23x10qxex312.htm EX-31.2 Document

EXHIBIT 31.2
Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to
Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, H. Phillip Moore, Jr., certify that:
1.I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. (the “registrant”);
2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a.Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b.Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c.Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d.Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a.All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and
b.Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
November 7, 2023 /s/ H. Phillip Moore, Jr.
H. Phillip Moore, Jr.
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)


EX-32.1 5 nic-3q23x10qxex321.htm EX-32.1 Document

EXHIBIT 32.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with this Quarterly Report of Nicolet Bankshares, Inc., (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Michael E. Daniels, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. s.1350, as adopted pursuant to s.906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to the best of my knowledge:
1.The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and
2.The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
November 7, 2023 /s/ Michael E. Daniels
Michael E. Daniels
President and Chief Executive Officer


EX-32.2 6 nic-3q23x10qxex322.htm EX-32.2 Document

EXHIBIT 32.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with this Quarterly Report of Nicolet Bankshares, Inc., (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about the date hereof (the “Report”), I, H. Phillip Moore, Jr., Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. s.1350, as adopted pursuant to s.906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to the best of my knowledge:
1.The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and
2.The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
November 7, 2023 /s/ H. Phillip Moore, Jr.
H. Phillip Moore, Jr.
Chief Financial Officer